Funding Florida's Statewide Greenways System

GOAL SEVEN: Fund the creation and maintenance of Florida's statewide greenways system using a combination of funding sources. Florida's existing programs for land acquisition and its support of community conservation and recreation initiatives put the state clearly at the forefront of the greenways movement. The Preservation 2000 program alone makes Florida a national leader in conservation land acquisition. Add to those funds 20 community-based environmental lands acquisition programs, conservation and recreation lands already in public ownership, the Florida Department of Transportation's ISTEA funding, and numerous public and private efforts to provide trails and other human use opportunities, and Florida stands out in the United States as realistically having the ability to create an integrated, statewide system of protected natural areas and greenways. Even though Florida has all these wonderful programs and has made significant process in protecting key ecological lands and providing for appropriate human use, a number of needs exist that must be overcome in order to accomplish our conservation and recreation goals. At the head of these needs are the planned completion of Preservation 2000 funding in five years, insufficient funding for the development and maintenance of trails and urban open spaces, and not enough funds to effectively manage acquired conservation lands and address on going recreational facilities operation and maintenance costs. Summary of Recommended Strategies Use and enhance existing funding sources, where appropriate, to meet the need for acquisition of greenways system components of all types, as well as facilities, resource management and operations and maintenance needs of the statewide greenways system. Florida's existing conservation and outdoor recreation programs can provide the building blocks for the statewide system of greenways. Preservation 2000 programs have already conserved key components of the proposed greenways system, including environmentally endangered lands acquired by the Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program; important water resource areas, including river floodplains and wetland systems, protected through the Save Our Rivers Program; local conservation lands and open spaces purchased through the Florida Communities Trust -,abandoned railroad corridors and lands for the Florida National Scenic Trail acquired by the Railsto-Trails program; and wildlife management, state forest and park inholdings, and other lands protected using other Preservation 2000 funding. These programs will continue to play a critical role in acquiring key components and, where appropriate and justified, filling in existing gaps in the statewide greenways system. A number of additional existing state programs can make significant contributions tothe creation of Florida's greenways system, such as the Florida Department of Transportation's ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) Enhancement Program and Scenic Highways Program, the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources, which supports the preservation of important historic/archaeological sites as well as the creation of historic and cultural trails. There unfortunately are some current recognized needs in these existing programs. These include: the necessity of funding Preservation 2000 on a year-to-year basis and after the currently planned completion of that program in the year 2000; low levels of funding for critical resource management activities on lands purchased by the state and its water management districts; insufficient funding for acquisition and development of greenways system components of all types, including hubs, sites and connectors; and insufficient funding for the operation and maintenance of trails and other recreational facilities. The Florida Greenways Coordinating Council, the lead state agency and other Supporters of Florida's greenways initiative can assist conservation and recreation interests working to address these funding needs through the creation of a statewide greenways system and the recognition of projects proposed as components of the system. Provide sufficient new funding for the institutional framework and associated technical assistance, education, and other planned programs. The Florida Greenways Commission and the work leading to its establishment has been supported by a combination of private and public funds. Private foundations have provided support to the Florida Greenways Project of 1000 Friends of Florida and The Conservation Fund for the past three and a half years. In 1994 the Florida Department of Transportation's ISTEA Enhancement Program also provided fund i rig to the Commission, including funding for the creation of the Florida Greenways database and map series. The Florida Departmerit of Transportation has agreed to fund the Commission in 1995 as a part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's approved ISTEA Enhancement Project to develop the Florida Greenways Plan. Sufficient new funding is needed to continue Florida's statewide greenways initiative, the work of the Florida Greenways Commission and its successor, the Florida Greenways Coordinating Council, and the greenways system implementation tasks recommended in this report. Develop and use new, innovative direct and in-kind funding sources to support creation of the statewide greenways system. While state funding is important, the state should not be expected to provide complete funding for all greenways system development and maintenance needs. Local governments, special districts, the private sector, and local citizens' direct and in-kind dollars will be critical to linking all parts of the statewide greenways system. Fortunately, much work is already being done at the community level, through local government, business and citizen involvement. Although these funding sources cannot replace existing dollars going to acquire the system's land and water base, they can make significant contributions in other critical operational aspects of the greenways system, such as resource management, facilities construction and maintenance. The proposed funding structure for the statewide greenways system would not be complete without recommendations to build upon these tremendous efforts to date. Develop innovative methods for funding community greenways. To Stimulate greenway activity at the local level, communities must make the best use of available funding and pursue innovative funding mechanisms. Local governments should encourage the use of donations, dedications, and conservation easements to supplement their open space, recreation and/or greenways systems. Donations Should always be reviewed for appropriateness within the local system. Dedications of land, cash and other assets should be used to fund both acquisition and maintenance.