Advocates, national and state organizations are exploring the possibility of a multi-use trail connecting Naples to Miami.
The hard-surfaced trail would be called the River of Grass Greenway. It would stretch 75 miles running parallel to the Tamiami Trail.
Project manager Mark Heinicke said right now the greenway is in a feasibility study and master plan stage.
He anticipates more than 90 percent of the trail would run through national and state parks. And, he said, it could also help the environment.
“Right now there’s a series of existing culverts and bridges along U.S.-41 that kind of blocks the water flow and by building the trail you could have a series of new culverts that act like a spreader canal and improve the water flow,” he said.
But, spiritual and clan leader of the Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation Aboriginal Peoples Bobby Billie disagreed.
He said he doesn’t want to see development in the Big Cypress Preserve because there is little of Florida’s natural environment left.
“Since I was born, to see what happened. I’m only just 70-years-old, all these wetlands and the nature disappeared in front of my eye,” he said.
Billie said building the trail would also violate agreements between his people and the federal government made during the 17-and-18 hundreds.
Project manager Mark Heinicke said dealing with treaties is a federal issue.
Heinicke hopes to complete the current phase by mid-summer. He said building the project would likely involve permits from several state and federal agencies.
