The Florida Legislature is at it again. Last year the cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection threatened the continued existence of certain Florida State Parks; now it’s a frontal assault on a full department of the government, the Office of Greenways & Trails.

This is terribly ironic at a time when Florida was named the top state for trails in America - hiking, biking, paddling, birding, equestrian, and more - and more people are turning to trails as an inexpensive way to relax during this stressful recession. Florida has more than 8,000 miles of trails, including our 1,400 mile Florida National Scenic Trail.

For more than a decade, the Office of Greenways and Trails, first instituted to manage the newly-formed Cross Florida Greenway from Cross Florida Barge Canal lands decommissioned and ceded to the state, has worked directly with user groups to develop the recreational potential of former railroad lines and other linear corridors throughout Florida. Success stories include the Cross Florida Greenway, which serves many user groups; the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, a prime destination for paddlers from around the world; and the Withlacoochee State Trail, providing a two-day trip for bicyclists between Dunnellon and Dade City.

Recreational corridors - greenways and trails - are the future of America. As our country reshapes itself to meet existing challenges, we’ll be looking for alternative ways to travel, vacation, and commute. Greenways provide these options. And they bring in the cash. More than $95 million of revenue can be traced to visitors coming to Florida to use our trails last year.

Only a few voices have spoken up to let me know about this impending crisis. Senator Charlie Dean (R, Inverness) is leading the charge to dismantle this important state agency. Their committee vote may be as soon as THIS TUESDAY, March 16. Please make your concerns known to Senator Dean and the other members of his committee; their names and contact information can be found on this Florida Senate Committees web page.

Several folks sent me a snippet of email that came from an article by environmental writer Bruce Ritchie on March 10:

“The Office of Greenways and Trails within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would be merged with the state park system as a cost-saving move under a proposed budget recommendation released Wednesday by the Senate General Government Appropriations Committee….The merger, suggested by Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, would allow for the elimination of 16 positions and save $974,000 a year, Baker said. Dean said visitors to state parks and greenways shouldn’t notice the difference after the merger. Meanwhile, the committee also proposed $142 million for the petroleum tanks cleanup program at DEP. The program, which receives trust fund money from a tax on oil imported into Florida, was reduced last year to $90 million in bonding after the Legislature swept money from the trust fund. Jim Smith, president of the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, said he hoped the budget recommendation, along with HB 1385, would allow the state to speed the cleanup of the state’s 14,000 petroleum contamination sites.”

Do let Senator Dean and your legislator know the importance of Greenways and Trails to you … and yes, that without staff to manage (and clean) trailhead amenities such as campgrounds and restrooms and to work with user groups and surrounding landowners, visitors would indeed notice the difference. Thanks!