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. Connecting Naples, Ave Maria, Immokalee and many 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.

As many of you know, Florida leads the nation in the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. Too many of us have either been hit by a vehicle while biking or running, or had numerous close calls. Without a safe network of non-motorized multi-use pathways, it is getting less and less safe for us. Across the country and across the state, places like Dunedin, Winter Garden and Inverness enjoy extensive, connected multi-use pathways, and 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 Paradise Coast Trail will provide several benefits: improved quality of life and healthier lifestyle, economic benefits to the county, increases to property values, greater safety for recreational and commuter bicyclists, just to name a few!

We have partnered with Rails to Trails Conservancy and hired consulting firm Kimley-Horn to help us bring this vision to reality. This past Friday, the Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization voted in support of a resolution endorsing the project. The next big step is the feasibility study, and fundraising has already begun!

We are hoping 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 to donate today so we can all enjoy walking, running and biking on the Paradise Coast Trail as soon as possible.