March 2025 “In the Loop”

Spring to the Springs Family Fun Ride and Trail Celebration

Join us for the 9th Annual Spring Family Event
March 29, Gemini Springs Park, DeBary, FL

Bikes & BBQ! What could be better??

The “Spring to the Springs Family fun Ride” starts at Gemini Springs Volusia County Park in DeBary. The event offers trail rides to suit everyone: all ages and abilities

5-Miles – casual kid-friendly ride to Lake Monroe Park
10-Mile ride to Green Springs County Park
18- miles to Blue Springs State Park
28-Mile ride around the Lake Monroe Loop
walking activities are also planned

The event is always well attended and sometimes sold out! It features great drawing prizes and food. Attendance is limited – register early so you don’t miss out! Our active events are for “Trail Alliance Friends” so if you are not registered as a 2025 Trail Alliance Friend or Family Friend now is the time! Remember Family Friends can bring 3 additional family or friends to all our events. Your Friends membership donation supports our effort to connect trails and improve safe cycling and walking in the 5-county region of the Loop. Learn more about the Friends program at the end of this newsletter.

More Information here

Report on the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation Summit

The FGTF Summit was held on Feb 5-6, 2025 at the Community Center in Venice, FL. This exciting and exciting and productive 2-day event celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the Florida SUN Trail System. I was honored to participate and represent the St Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance. There were over 200 participants, 50 speakers and a dozen sponsors at the event. It was a pleasure to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Considering the distance, we had good representation east central/north Florida. Tim Baylie Volusia Parks Director and FGTF Board Member, Ken Bryan Senior Strategist at Rails to Trails Conservancy, Greg Kern Vice-President Gresham and Smith, Me – Maggie Ardito River2SeaLoop President, and Amy Munizzi – DeLeon Springs Community Association.

Tim Baylie played a major role and spoke on trail design and amenities, and on the opportunity that 2023 SB 106 opens for trails in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and a new approach to non-invasive trails that meet all requirements. Tim is leading the movement on how to overcome barriers to make this potential opportunity a reality. He presented his work on a hard trail surface that meets the requirements for an environmentally friendly permeable surface that can be used in “previously disturbed lands, such as abandoned roads and railroads, canal corridors, and drainage berms, and be compatible with conservation areas.” There is a link to a video and the Volsuia Trails master plan here: https://river2sealoop.org/links/

Ken spoke about progress at RTC on Trail Nation and the Great American Rail Trail (Washington State to DC) and the nuts and bolts of “railbanking”. Greg spoke on and spoke on greenway and trail design and design for long-term operations and maintenance.

Discussions centered on best practices for trails and the opportunity opened by 2023 SB 106 for additional funding to advance a statewide network of greenways and trails integrated with the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Dale Allen reported on the feasibility for a “Lake to Lake” Trail through the Wildlife Corridor from Lake Monroe to Lake Okeechobee. This would connect to SUNTrails in Volusia as well as the planned trail through the conservation corridor as shown in the Volusia Trails Master Plan. Dale and FGTF President Ned Baier both emphasized FGTF’s important unique role in connecting advocates, state and local governments, and businesses and the important role regional nonprofits play in building public support for key projects and policies.

There are links to the conservation trail video and the Volusia Trails Master Plan here. Links to the Lake to Lake Trail Concept will be posted as soon as released.

Commemorative Bench Project

The River2Sea Loop Alliance announces a new project to plan and place commemorative benches along the St Johns River-to-Sea Loop. Trailside commemorative benches are a way to recognize contributions, to honor a loved one, or to create a space for reflection. They also form landmarks or meeting places that help create community by encouraging moments of rest and reflection for visitors.

The benches will provide additional trail amenities while at the same time providing a way to honor and recognize people who have made significant contributions. Our commemorative bench project has two parts: honoring trail champions and offering opportunities for individually sponsored benches.

The Alliance is embarking on projects to honor and remember two Trail Champions who helped us on the way to more trails and safer cycling and walking. The first two fundraising projects will honor two Trail Champions that made significant contributions to trails and safe cycling. People who use the trails may wish to show their appreciation for the work toward completing and connecting trails and making our area for cycling by donating to these projects.

The benches will also be available to individuals or groups who wish to sponsor a bench to honor or recognize family or friends or to have a quiet place of their own for reflection or to commemorate meaningful quotes, ideas, dreams, people or events. Trailside benches can become recognized destination offering a place to meet or stop for a rest along the trail. If you wish to consider sponsoring or fundraising for a bench for yourself or family or to celebrate or recognize something, please contact us.

We are collaborating with Volusia County on the details, designs and placements of these benches and plaques. If you wish to be involved in planning please consider joining our committee.

Losing a Visionary – Saying Goodbye to Herb Hiller

It is with great sadness that we say farewell to long-time trail champion and mentor to many, Herb HIller. Many in Florida know and remember him as a long-time Trail Champion. Herb died on February 3 at his home in Acworth Georgia, after suffering a fall. He was 93. As Mark Lane says in his article “Having one less idea guy is a real loss, no matter how advanced in years.” He will be missed.

Herb was a passionate advocate for trails and cycling and played many roles; he was instrumental in creating the Florida Bicycling Program for the State of Florida, he served on the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation Board and as South East Regional Consultant for the East Coast Greenway. He was the original visionary of the St Johns River-to-Sea Loop in 2008 and co-founded the St Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance in 2016.

A celebration of Herb’s life is planned.
Saturday March 15, 2025
4:30-6:00 PM
Westminster Hall
125 s. 2nd street Palatka Fla 32177
Planning to attend or wish to send a message?

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More About Herb Here

Roy Walters

Learn more about the interesting history of Roy Walters and his enduring legacy of trails, Thornby Park and the Enterprise Museum. Roy’s work with the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization made a significant contribution to multiuse trails including the Coast to Coast and St Johns River-to-Sea Loop. Neither Thornby Park nor the Enterprise Museum would exist without the Walters’ long battles to create them and long years of work restoring and improving them.

Roy Walters

How You Can Help

We are making a Difference – you can help! The River-to-Sea Loop Alliance works for more connected trails and safer walking and cycling in Volusia and all five counties around the Loop. If you ride a bike, walk, or enjoy using our multiuse trails, you should be supporting the organization that makes it possible.