Historical Timeline.pdf

Public lands established in Florida.
1930s: Canal Authority created to purchase lands for Cross Florida Ship Canal.
1935: Construction of ship canal began, ceased within a year.
1942: Congress authorized Cross Florida Barge Canal construction.
1964: Groundbreaking ceremony for barge canal, Florida Trail Association established.
1970s: Florida Canoe Trail System established, now Florida Paddling Trails System.
1971: Barge canal project halted by President Nixon.
1979: Florida Recreational Trails Act adopted.
1980: Florida Department of Transportation hires first bicycle coordinator.
1983: Florida Trail designated as part of National Trails System.
1984: First rail-trail created from abandoned rail corridor.
1987: Original Florida Bicycle Association formed.
1989: Rails to Trails Conservancy establishes Florida field office.
1991: Cross Florida Barge Canal deauthorized, Canal Lands Authority established.
1993: Former barge canal lands transferred to DNR and Office of Greenways Management.
1994: Florida Greenways Commission created, Bike Florida established.
1995: Florida Greenways and Trails Act passed, Florida Greenways and Trails Council created.
1998: First Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan adopted.
2000: Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge completed.
2005: Chapter 260 amended to authorize Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.
2007: East Coast Greenway Alliance opens Florida field office, Florida Paddling Trails Association launched.
2008: OGT receives Best Trails State in America award.
2011: OGT merged into Division of Recreation and Parks.
2013: New vision for Florida Greenways and Trails System outlined.
2014: Legislative funding authorized for Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail.
2015: Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network created.
2016: Florida Greenways and Trails Council prioritizes regional SUN Trail funding.
2018: Final draft of opportunity and priority trail maps completed, Dunedin designated as first trail town.
2019: Final Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan adopted, four new trail towns designated.
2022: DeBary adopted as 12th recognized trail town.