DELAND, Fla -- Nearly 200 trails enthusiasts gathered Friday at Lake Beresford Park in West Volusia to celebrate Florida’s designation as the Best Trails State in America, said Volusia County spokeswoman Pat Kuehn.
American Trails gave the inaugural award to Florida on Nov. 17, in recognition of its outstanding statewide system of trails at the National Trails Symposium in Little Rock. Representatives from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection joined with Volusia County officials and trails organizations at Lake Beresford Park to announce the award and unveil the new “Best Trails State” logo.
"The ceremony started with the arrival 20 cyclists from Bike Florida who were making their inaugural tour of the St. Johns River to the Sea Loop," Kuehn said.
The 260-mile loop runs through Volusia and four other counties. Upon its completion in 2013, it will be the longest bicycling loop in the Southeast.
The crowd included representatives from the Florida Greenways and Trails Council, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Florida Bicycle Association, Florida Wildflower Foundation, Florida Trail Association, Florida Paddling Trails Association, Florida Trail Riders, Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Rep. John Mica's office.
Volusia County maintains four major trail systems and is partnering with other counties to complete the St. Johns River to the Sea Loop and a 51-mile rail trail. From healthy lifestyles to robust economies, trails offer many benefits to Volusia County residents and visitors.
For more information about Volusia County’s trails program, visit www.volusia.org/trails. Florida has more than 5,000 miles of trails. For more information about Florida’s greenways and trails, visit www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com.