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• Background: St Johns River-to-Sea Loop and the Alliance

• Why trails matter

• The Partnering Imperative

• How can we do better?

Agenda

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About the River2Sea Loop260-mile multi-use Trail

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• Decade-long Dream

• In 2016 Florida Greenways & Trails Council selected the Loop as one of two Top-Priority Trails for state SUNTrail Funding

• 5 Counties• Brevard• Volusia • Putnam• St Johns• Flagler

• Connecting• Titusville• DeBary• Palatka• St Augustine• Titusville

St Johns River-to-Sea Loop

Florida

“The Vision”

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Shared-Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail Program

Florida Department of Transportation

• Created under 339.81, Florida Statute

• To develop a statewide system of paved non-motorized trails for bicyclists and pedestrians (SUN Trail Network) as a component of the Florida Greenways & Trails System

• $25 million annually funded from the redistribution of new vehicle tag revenues

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People are more likely to shift from driving to bicycling if they feel safer and more comfortable in their environment.

Commuting Trends in Florida, Florida Department of Transportation (2016)

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Vision: Statewide Network

Connections• Coast to Coast Trail to St

Petersburg

• Heart of Florida to Inverness and Dunellon via Withlacochee

• Palatka-Lake Butler Trail

• East Coast GreenwayMaine to Key West

• Adventure Cycling Southern Tier to San Diego

• US Bike Routes 1 and 90

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“A trail is as good as the things it connects”

The promise of the Loop

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• Multiuse

• Recreation

• Transportation

• Commuting

• Tourism - Multiday tours

• Wellness/fitness/health

• Community events

• A Trail for everyone• Bikers • Hikers• Runners• Walkers• Strollers• Wheelchairs

The Loop Today

Longest completed sectionOver 40 miles

NOT IN 5-YEAR PLAN

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The Loop Today

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• 43% Complete

• Committed FDOT SUNTrail Funds - about $8M per year

• Funding for pavement

• Not for • Amenities

• Signs and Wayfinding

• Trailheads

• Water

• Restrooms

• Maintenance

• Promotion

• More is needed to Fulfill the Promise of the Loop

About the River-to-Sea Loop Alliance

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• 501(c)3 formed immediately after the Loop designation as top-priority SUN Trail

• A few dedicated volunteers

• Mission: Fulfill the Loop’s promise • Advance• Advocate• Support• Promote• Protect

“The Vision”

“The Reality”

Fulfilling the Promise

Why Trails Matter

• Community Building

• Low-impact, high-value Tourism

• Economic DevelopmentTOD: Transit-Oriented Development

TRAIL

• Health, Wellness & Fitness

• Community Safety

• Environmental Sustainability

• Equitable, Active Mobility

Trails have no downside

Why Trails MatterQuality of Life

• “Trails are the most desired community amenity that homeowners seek when building a home” National Association of Home Builders

• “83 percent of the people responding to our survey stated that trails are their number one priority for recreation ”St Johns county Parks and Recreation Master Plan Survey

Trails Connect Parks, Communities, People

• In West Volusia an easy trail ride connects • 1 State Park

• 3 County Parks

• Several Community Parks

Why Trails MatterCommunity Building

• Trails promote health, fitness and overall wellbeing

• People will exercise if it’s enjoyable

• Cycling, walking and jogging have been proven to mitigate and prevent

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Heart problems

• Aging

• Mental problems

Why Trails MatterHealth

The EuroVelo Network• Coordinated by

European Cyclists Federation

• Multi-government

• Signed

• Numbered

• Mapped

• Promoted

• Supported

Economic impact study in 2012

$57 Billion per year

Why Trails MatterTourism

Trails MatterTo Florida

• The Dutch invest .1% of GDP on cycling infrastructure

• Gain health benefits over 5%

• 50 X ROI

• .1% of Florida’s GDP~ $1B

Investment in Cycling Infrastructure

The Partnering Imperative

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• No single organization can “Fulfill the Loop’s Promise”

• A 260-mile trail is larger than any organization

• $8Million a year FDOT investment will not do it

• It takes partnership• State, County and Community Parks

• Economic Development

• Nonprofits• Trail Support Organizations

• Tourism Advertising Agencies

• Commercial interests “The Promise”“The

Reality” Fulfilling the Promise

Partnerships are Key to Alliance Mission

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Parks are our most important Partners

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State Parks

County Parks

Community Parks

Park Agencies are Key to Trail Success

What government agencies (usually Parks) do for trails

• Trail Building• Engineering/Contract Oversight• Wayfinding Signs• Planning Maps• Physical infrastructure:

• Trailheads• Benches• Water• Restrooms• Trash Cans

• Maintenance• Limited trail activities

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DUAL LOGO MILE M ARK E R SIGN DETAIL (FOR M IL E M ARK E R SIGNS 2 TO 24.5)

(EACH PANEL IS 6" WIDE BY 16" TA

OAST TO COAST LOGO MILE MARKER STICKER DETAIL (FOR MILE MARKER SIGNS OTO 1.5

AND 25 TO 26.5)

TRAIL SIDE OF POST BACK SIDE OF POST

l • l • ' .

Design & Erect Trail Wayfinding Signs

- Many details had to be coordinated with FDOT to comply with federal standards

- Icons, duration of travel and mode of travel, art work, sign material, height, post material, powder coating, color palette, sign thickness, fasteners, etc.

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Slides from Volusia County Park Presentation atMarch 1, 2019 Stakeholder Workshop

How to Pay for Trail Maintenance

• “Trails are the most desired community amenity that homeowners seek when building a home” - National Association of Home Builders 2008

• Various studies indicate property values increase 3 to 5% when near a trail which in turn boosts the amount of property taxes collected

• Lets look at the numbers…..

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Property values - by the numbers

• Assessed value of residential property within 1,000 feet of Volusia County’s existing paved trail system

• Increase in residential property value attributable to proximity to trail system (4%)

• General fund millage rate is $5.6944 per thousand dollars of taxable value

• Total incremental tax benefit to Volusia County

• Total incremental economic value to residential property owner

$4,575,150,111

$183,006,004

$1,042,109

$5.6944

$7,956

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Health Care Costs

• In Florida• 2.4 million with diabetes• Cost of diabetes $24.3 billion (2012)• Cycling helps prevent & treat diabetes• People will cycle if there is safe, accessible

infrastructure

• In Volusia County• 10% of diabetics exercising on trails could reduce

$4.2 billion health care bill by $84 million

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Economic Impact

• Local businesses

• Increases out of county visitation

• Trail users spend approximately $20 per visit

• Evaluate by looking at incremental growth in visitors to your community because of your trails

• Evaluate visitors already coming to your community but extend their stay

• Evaluate local residents buying goods or services to use the trail

• Examples from around the state

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Nonprofits Can Help

What nonprofits can do that government agencies don’t

• Trail promotion

• Agile, frequently updated Website

• Social media

• Newsletter

• Brochures

• Promotional maps, Trail guides & Online “Story Maps” to showcase recreational, historical, and natural assets featuring trail-friendly commercial amenities

• Large Rides & Wellness activities

• Crossing boundaries - Work with commercial companies, other nonprofits, across counties

• Apply for commercial grants

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“The Promise”“The

Reality” Fulfilling the Promise

What does the Alliance do?

• Develop and Maintain Website

• Vibrant Social Media Presence

• Organize Stakeholder Workshops and Summits

• Organize trail-oriented events

• Develop Maps for trail use and promotion

• Design & erect kiosk signs

• Obtain grants & Raise Funds

• Monitor & contribute to routing studies

• Advocate and develop champions

• Work with communities for promotion and to attain Florida State Trail Town and Trailhead designation

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“The Promise”“The

Reality” Fulfilling the Promise

River2SeaLoop.org Website

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Maps on the Website(support from DEO)

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Trailhead Story Map

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Campground Story Map

Agritourism Corridor

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River-to-Sea Loop

Nature & History Corridor(support from REI)

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“In the Loop”Newsletter

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Milestones

• March, 2016: Loop designated as second top-priority SUNTrail

• July, 2016: St Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance formed

• August, 2017: Stakeholder Meeting – St Augustine/SJC

• Sept, 2017: DEO Grant for Strategic Plan and Maps (w/ECFRPC)

• October 2017: 3-Day St Johns River-to-Sea Loop Summit – W. Volusia

• 2017 – 2018: Initiated Tri-County Agritourism Corridor

• Early 2019: REI Grant for Nature & History Corridor

• January 23: FGTC Meeting in Ocala for Deltona & Palatka Trail Towns

• March 1: Stakeholder Workshop – DeBary Hall

• March 16: “Spring into Spring” Ride & Trail Celebration in West Volusia

• April 6: Ribbon Cutting and Ride on Palatka to St Augustine Section

• April: River2Sea Nature & History Corridor Sign Celebration

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Stakeholder WorkshopMarch 1, 2019

• In partnership with Volusia County Parks, Recreation and Culture• DeBary Hall Historic Site – Beautiful Venue - Great

Support & Volunteers• Over 65 vital stakeholders actively participated• 26 Speakers and panelists from all over the state

• Participation• FDOT Organizations• OGT, State Parks• TPOs (Space Coast, R2C, North FL) • Counties• Towns

• Economic Development, CoC• Regional Orgs

• Tourism, CVB, Cultural• Scenic Highways

• Volusia County Parks Director Tim Baylie led multiple presentations and panels -presented sign designs and economic information that can be leveraged by the other 4 counties

• Maggie discussed leveraging partnerships and sharing information and resources• Pat Northey discussed the need to identify and nurture Champions

Leveraging Partnerships

NOT IN 5-YEAR PLAN

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Champions

Identify a champion in every Jurisdiction!

At the state level, regionally, county and cities (and don’t forget your Federal

members

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Nature & History Corridor SignFunded by “Get Out on the Loop” grant

from REI with support from West Volusia TAA

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Florida Trail Towns(working with OGT)

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• OGT assesses and designates

• Requirements• Bike-Friendly Communities

• Support Trail Organizations

• Facilities for touring and day cyclists

• Trail-oriented attractions

• Benefits of Connecting• Cooperative marketing &

promotion• Shared resources & information• Events & tours

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“Spring into Spring” Ride & Trail Celebration March 16

Trails are for EVERYONE!

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Brainstorm Time

• How can we get better at leveraging partnerships for mutual benefit?

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Working with nonprofits(Agency perspective)

Barriers• They waste my time

• No control of outcome or quality

• They are untrained

• They don’t have right tools

• They don’t understand our • Process

• Environment

• Constraints

• Unpaid = Unreliable

Benefits• Mission Driven

• They can do some things better• Engage & promote commercial enterprises• Creative fundraising & cost savings• Work across boundaries• May have technical, entrepreneurial or other expertise• Passionate trail users and advocates• No charge number required

• They know things we don’t• Understand trail users’ needs

• Long-distance cycle-tourers • Bike packers & campers• Different equipment (E-bikes, road bikes…)• Runners, joggers

• What attracts cycle-tourism• Dangerous gaps, alternate routes, current trail conditions

• They have unique, creative relationships • Trail guide developers

(E.g. a member who writes trail guides in German and distributes them in Germany)

Challenges• Credibility

• Trail Name Recognition• St Johns River to Sea Loop not well-

known

• Funding & Resources

• No support network

• No official standing• Unlike Scenic Highways and Friends of

State Parks, SUNTrail support groups have no state-level recognition or support

Opportunities• Prove our value

• Put the Loop on the Map• Online maps• Online and printed guides• Tourist maps

• Grants from DEO, Companies and other nonprofits

• Potential trail support association & annual conference

Working with Gov’t(Nonprofit perspective)

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Shareable Information

• GIS mapping technical data – shapefiles, SVGs, KMZ

• Labeling and style standards and conventions• Graphic Art

• Logos and branding• Sign designs and design elements• Marketing/Brochure design elements

• Database of trail status & completion dates• Wayfinding system, mile markers, numbering,

Interim routes

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Better Ways of Wayfinding Bike-friendly places have systems and standards that create market demand and improve navigation

What lessons can be applied?

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Opportunities for Collaboration

• Stakeholder Workshops

• Route Planning

• Identify issues/notify public

• Team on Government Grants

• Trail events – rides, runs, wellness events

• Organize Trail Rangers and Cleanup Crews

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• Simple Steps• Share posts across social media • Cross links to website• “Like” Facebook pages• Share & link Meetup & Facebook Events

• Fairly Easy• Shared Calendar• Promote Events

• High Value – Longer Term – a common web platform• Establish association of trail support groups• Develop requirements for Trail Support Organizations website• Develop common platform

Leveraging Website & Social Media

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How Parks Agencies can help Nonprofits

• Help raise awareness and improve name recognition for the group

• Be inclusive with trusted partners• Meet with nonprofits regularly• Be open to collaboration• Exchange information

• Partner on events• Promote, include on calendars• Provide venues, facilities and volunteers

• Connect them with other potential partners• Tourism Advertising Agencies will support nonprofits for tourism–related tasks

• Provide training (e.g. GIS)

• Refer advocates to the group• Advisory Board• Ambassador/Spokesperson• Correspondent

• Be upfront - tell them how they can be more helpful (and what is not helpful)

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Finally -What advice would you give

nonprofits that want to partner?

• Don’t waste my time• Develop and distribute an agenda – even for a phone call

• Minimize email and keep to most important issues

• Combine several issues into one meeting

• Be prepared – research and organize findings in advance

• Understand the agency• Manage your contacts

• Know who does what and who knows what

• Be informed – take classes to learn needed skills

• Be reliable• Figure out what would be helpful

• Get approval where appropriate

• Deliver on commitments

• What else?

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Questions?

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Explore our Website https://www.River2SeaLoop.org

Like us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/SJR2C

Email

maggie@SJR2C.ORG