PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
This item supports the Board’s value of encouraging investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection, and the associated goal to educate the public about the fragile South Florida ecosystems, impacts of severe weather, sea level rise, and climate change. This item also supports the Board’s value of cultivating community culture, arts, recreation and life-long learning, and the associated goals to provide diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi-cultural and economically-viable community and, in coordination with our community partners, market and deliver world-class recreational opportunities. The Long Key South Trail that will be built through this Project grant will be an important addition at Long Key Nature Center that will engage and educate park users about the fragile South Florida environment. The trail, which will include interpretive educational signage, will provide visitors expanded access to the wetland and hardwood hammock ecosystem of this natural area. Visitors will enjoy recreational usage of an otherwise inaccessible portion of Long Key’s ecosystem, including a wetland restoration project, with the development of the 2,940 foot trail.
The Recreational Trails Program (“RTP”) is a federally funded competitive grant program administered by DEP’s Office of Greenways and Trails within the State of Florida that provides financial assistance to city, county, state and federal governments, and other organizations for the development of recreational trails, trailheads and trailside facilities. Broward County has been selected to receive a grant for $122,790 for the development of a trail and related amenities at Long Key Nature Center.
Long Key Nature Center, owned by Broward County and managed by the County’s Parks and Recreation Division, is a 164.8-acre site located on Southwest 130th Avenue in the Town of Davie, west of Flamingo Road and north of Griffin Road. The nature center provides a natural history exhibit hall, event hall, visitor center, classroom, nature trails, equestrian trails and a public art display. Long Key also encompasses some of the most significant archaeological, historical, and ecological resources in the County, as the area was inhabited by the ancient Tequestas and the more modern Seminoles. The live oak hammock on site serves as a habitat for wildlife and is one of the largest remaining stands of upland hardwood forest in the County. Long Key contains acres of restored wetland marshes that have become a haven for a variety of migratory and resident birds, as well as several man-made ponds and canals. The site is also a refuge for birds, butterflies, and a variety of mammals, including foxes and bobcats.
A common critique among visitors of Long Key Nature Center is that the natural area needs more trails to enjoy and access the site. The purpose of this grant is to address this need. The Long Key South Trail Project will construct 1,830 feet of ADA trail connecting from the existing paved interpretive trail in the oak hammock south of the nature center, through the former Pioneer City amusement park (circa 1966) train station pad and into the planned peninsula of a scheduled wetland restoration project in the southeast section of the natural area. Also, an 1,110 foot mulch trail will be created that will follow the pathway of the former Pioneer City train. The proposal also includes resurfacing of the train station pad, a new shelter, and three interpretive signs. The estimated cost of the project is $204,650. The RTP grant for $122,790 will pay for 60% of the trail and associated construction costs. The County is responsible for the remaining $81,860, which will include $4,700 in-kind service and $77,160 from the Grants Reserve Fund as approved by the County Grants Administration office. The project construction must be completed within two years from the Grant Agreement (Exhibit 2) execution date, with the possibility of two one-year extensions for good cause at the discretion of DEP. The Grant Agreement has been approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. The Grant Agreement is a DEP standard form agreement, and DEP was not willing to make any non-substantive revisions requested by the Office of the County Attorney. Venue for any legal action arising under Grant Agreement is Leon County, Florida. The DEP has requested that the County execute the Grant Agreement first.
As part of DEP’s requirements for this grant, an agreement between the Central Broward Water Control District (“District”) and the County was needed to secure a level of site control across a canal Right-of-Way (“ROW”) held by the District, as conveyed in Broward County O.R. Book 14557, Page 0510. DEP required assurance that the trail, which Parks and Recreation planned to construct across the ROW over an existing culvert, would not be in jeopardy by any changes that the District may perform within the ROW. The County and District, with DEP’s approval and satisfaction, elected to execute the Non-Disturbance Agreement (Exhibit 5), allowing the County to develop the trail across the ROW held by the District. The District agrees to not disturb the trail for a period of 25 years, with an automatic annual renewal unless either party desires to terminate the Non-Disturbance Agreement after the 25-year period. If the trail creates drainage or water flow problems, the County will resolve the issue for the District. As part of the trail development process, the County will submit the District permit application required for this type of work within the canal ROW.
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