PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Nov. 27, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kaycee Lagarde
850-435-1623
klagarde@cityofpensacola.com

Pensacola Paddling Trail Town Hall Set for Dec. 2

District 6 Councilwoman Ann Hill will host a town hall meeting Monday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. to provide information and gather public input on the vision for a Pensacola Bay Paddling Trail. The meeting will take place in the Whibbs Conference Room, located on the first floor of City Hall, 222 W. Main St. 

Community waterfront organizations, businesses and nonprofits, boating and rowing enthusiasts, and citizens are invited to attend to get information about the project and provide input.

The vision for the project is to create a Pensacola Bay Paddling Trail from Baars Park to Sanders Beach that not only maps public waterfront access and launch sites, but also ties in other historic and nature trails, tourist attractions, parks and important visitor information. ADA-accessible kayak launches will also be incorporated to support the vision of "boatability."

The City of Pensacola is also pursuing becoming a member of the Florida Paddling Trails Association to define Pensacola as a Blueway Community, which is expected to be presented before City Council in January. The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department and a volunteer group of paddling enthusiasts have been leading efforts to become part of the Florida Blueway Community. 

The Florida Paddling Trails Blueway Community Program helps communities develop locations of interest to both in-state paddlers and out-of-state tourists. Florida's climate, natural surroundings, and vast navigable waterways make our state an ideal destination. The state of Florida has over 50 designated paddling trails on various rivers and streams as well as the 1,515 mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. Recreation enthusiasts seek nature-based tourism destinations, resulting in local economic stimulus and increased public awareness of natural Florida.

Casual paddlers, day paddlers, and weekend paddlers all want to enjoy the outdoors, and Pensacola will become the western gateway to their experience via the Florida Paddling Trails.

For more information or general questions, email pio@cityofpensacola.com. To stay informed about what's happening with City of Pensacola government, sign up for email or text notifications through Notify Me or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.

The City of Pensacola adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities. Please call 435-1606 (or TDD 435-1666) for further information. Request must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the event in order to allow the City time to provide the requested services.