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Across the country and across the state, places like Dunedin, Winter Garden and Inverness, enjoy extensive, connected multi-modal pathways, but shockingly, Naples does not. The Gordon River Greenway and the Rich King Memorial Greenway are heavily used and very popular with residents and visitors to the area, but they are 4-miles in length or less and are not connected to other safe pathways. The project provides a safe network of multi-modal pathways, making Southwest Florida safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Naples Pathways Coalition is thrilled to announce the Paradise Coast Trail. We envision this to be a premier 70+ mile trail built exclusively for safe and enjoyable walking, running and biking.
The Paradise Coast Trail will connect Naples, Ave Maria, Immokalee and other areas within and beyond Collier County. It will expand transportation options, improve health and wellness, reduce our carbon footprint and provide a destination to experience the Paradise Coast's unique beauty. It will drive quality of life and healthier lifestyles, yield economic benefits to the county, increases property values, and enable greater safety for walkers, runners, recreational and commuter bicyclists.
The first segment we are working on is the connection of the Gordon River Greenway (4 miles) and the Rich King Memorial Greenway (3 miles). This will be an important first phase.
We have partnered with Rails to Trails Conservancy and hired consulting firm Kimley-Horn to help us bring this vision to reality. Rails to Trails even selected the Paradise Coast Trail as a Priority Trail. Click here to see their endorsement of the project and read the case study.
The Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted a resolution endorsing the project. The next big step is the feasibility study, and fundraising has already begun!
NPC plans to fast-track the trail's development and not wait on the typical improvement project time frame. If we can raise the funds needed for the feasibility study, we will be in a position to shave five years or more from the process! We invite you donate today so we can all be walking, running and biking on the Paradise Coast Trail!
Check out the great press the Paradise Coast Trail has been receiving:
- article from Florida Weekly reporter Cindy Pierce.
- story from WINK News reporter Jerrica Valtierra.
- article from Naples Daily News reporter Emma Dill.
NPC would like to acknowledge all of our wonderful donors that are helping us to create, safe, bikeable, walkable communities in Collier County and supporting the efforts for us to fast track the 70+ mile Paradise Coast Trail!
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