Educating and Involving the Public

GOAL SIX: Educate and inform diverse audiences about the concept of greenways and the statewide system of greenways. From financial support to trail building, community involvement-and thus Community education-is key to making the Commission's vision a reality. Sucessful greenways promote themselves. Citizens from neighboring communities who visit a well-planned, developed and managed greenway often leave wondering how they can create a greenway in their own community. The Commission's objective is to inform Florida's citizens about greenway benefits so they will be inspired to create them in their own communities. Florida's Environmental Education Act has already created a strong environmental education effort at the state, regional and local levels. These activities generate a continuing awareness of our responsibility to preserve the earth's capability to sustain life in the most healthy, enjoyable and productive environment possible. Environmental education must encourage an understanding of natural systems, natural, historical and cultural resources and how human beings interact with them so that all Florida's citizens can become better stewards of the environment. Greenways can enhance these efforts by providing opportunities for exciting, firsthand learning experiences. These hands-on experiences will enrich the teaching of a broad range of environmental education topics. Using greenways as outdoor classrooms provides environmental education with a meaningful focus for creating awareness of our fragile environment and the future of the Florida it sustains. A strong, well articulated vision can help address concerns and garner support from individual and private landowners, special interest groups, politicians and the press. Public awareness is the key to overcoming barriers and organizing public support. Summary of Recommended Strategies Develop and implement a comprehensive education program for informing and educating the general public about greenways and the statewide greenways system. One of Governor Chiles' charges to the Commission was to join him in recognizing officially 150 state, regional and local greenway projects in 1995 as a part of the state's Sesquicentennial Celebration The celebration provides an excellent opportunity to hold a number of greenway-related events that will help involve the public in the greenways movement. The celebration also provides a good opportunity for kicking off a comprehensive greenways education program for Florida. Involve educational groups in planning, developing and implementing student/teacher education programs that promote awareness, appreciation and understanding of greenways and how they aid in sustaining vital native ecosystems and landscapes. Florida has a number of strong environmental education efforts at the state, regional and local levels. Greenways can enhance those efforts by providing exciting, handson informal science education experiences that can supplement teaching in a broad range of environmental education topics. They can provide a focus for teaching about Florida's sustainable future. Educate the business community and landowners about the impacts of greenways to address concerns and foster support of greenway programs and projects. Businesses can become valuable partners in the statewide greenways effort. Not only can they provide financial and technical resources, they can provide private greenways as links to a greater systerm. Utilities, agricultural interests, forestry companies and mining operations represent sorne of the key industry groups that have great potential to locate greenways on their properties. Individual landowners whose property maybe included in a greenway and landowners adjacent to proposed greenways may be concerned about safety and security, liability, property values, maintenance, environmental impacts and longterm funding. Many of the concerns that have been voiced before greenways were developed have not been realized after the projects were completed. In fact, property values often go up and security is improved. Access to greenways can make properties more marketable and improve the quality of life in urban areas. Encourage local public land managers and comprehensive planners to incorporate the concept of greenways and greenway linkages in open space/ natural area planning and regulation. Florida has more than 450 local and municipal governments that control land use through comprehensive plans, land development regulations and other local rules and regulations. Twenty of Florida's governments have active land acquisition and management programs. These local entities can influence the success of greenways through their planning and land management programs. Encourage under-represented groups to become more active in greenways and persuade greenway leaders to include urban and rural areas in greenways planning. Many groups are under-represented in organizations focusing on environmental issues. In addition, the majority of greenways and land acquisition programs focus on rural lands. Greenway leaders must be sure to make their efforts relevant to all ethnic and income groups in both urban and rural areas. Urban greenways can provide alternative transportation to work and play, improve community appearances and land values, offer youth and adult recreation opportunities and even create safety zones when effectively implemented. There are a number of models for successful urban greenways that have connected low-income urban residents with necessary services and recreational amenities.