Bay County Jurisdictions consider Cooperative Greenway Master Planning Approach
June 2005
The St. Andrew Bay Environmental Study Team (BEST) and 1000 Friends of Florida held a workshop titled “Master Planning for Greenways and Trails in Bay County.” The workshop was designed to initiate complete an outline for a county-wide master plan for parks, greenways, and trails. (See agenda below).
The workshop aims to discuss a blueprint for a county-wide master plan for parks, greenways, and trails. By invitation, the municipalities, the county, and other designated partners in this effort learned how Tallahassee and Leon County accomplished their master plan. At the workshop, participants worked to develop an outline for Bay County and associated municipalities regarding a greenway blueprint.
Speakers included: Mr. Charles Pattison, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Florida, Mr. Dan Pennington, Community Planner from 1000 Friends of Florida, Mr. Craig Diamond and Mr. Stephen Hodges of the Tallahassee –Leon County Planning Department, Ms. Gayle Oberst, Panama City Beach City Councilwoman, and Mr. Jim Wood and Ms. Robin Turner of the Office of Greenways & Trails. Participants include representatives from Bay County, Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven and Callaway, as well as representatives from Gulf Power, The Division of Forestry, The Bay County City Flyers Cycling Club, The Florida Trail Association, and other local businesses and civic groups.
Presentations:
Charles Pattison and Dan Pennington - 1000 Friends of Florida
Craig Diamond & Steve Hodges - Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department
Jim Wood - Office of Greenways and Trails
WORKSHOP ON MASTER PLANNING
FOR GREENWAYS & TRAILS IN BAY COUNTY
JUNE 8, 2005
GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Student Union East - Room 243
8:30-9:00 (CT) Registration & Mingling
9:00-9:30 Welcome, Opening Remarks, "The Challenge"
Charles Pattison, Executive Director, 1000 Friends of Florida
Neil Lamb - Bay Environmental Study Team
Dan Pennington, Community Planner, 1000 Friends of Florida
9:30 - 11:00 The Tallahassee/Leon County Experience with Greenways Master Planning, Craig Diamond & Stephen Hodges, Tallahassee-Leon Co. Planning Department
Discussion and Questions (beginning a program, funding, political
buy-in, voluntary acquisition, multi-use projects, solving problems, multi-departmental
implementation, state restrictions, etc.)
11:00 Break
11:15-11:45 A Local City's Perspective and Efforts
Gayle Oberst, Panama City Beach
11:45-12:30 Lunch (complimentary in the classroom) **
12:30-1:00 Office of Greenway's & Trails
Jim Wood & Robin Turner
1:00-2:00 Group Input to "The Plan"
2:00-2:15 Break
2:15-3:00 Complete the Outline for a County Master Plan - Mapping a Possible Way Forward.
3:00-3:15 Final Comments and Dismissal
** Lunch is provided compliments of Gulf Power Company **
Support for this effort has been provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. With a lead grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Inc. has raised $2.5 million to protect, through acquisition or easement, important wildlife lands in the East Gulf Coastal Plain Region