Reinventing the Florida National

Scenic Trail Partnership

14th Conference on National Scenic and Historic Trails

November 5, 2013

Case Study

►Examine the process and outcomes of reinventing the Florida National Scenic Trail Partnership

Florida National Scenic Trail► 1,300 miles► Traverses 58 land

management areas administered by 28 different land management agencies

► 400,000 visitors per year

► 18 million people within a 1 hour drive

Why Partnership Reinvention?

Implement changes to the partnership to:

►Be relevant►Remain sustainable►Achieve strategic goals

Why Partnership Reinvention?

5 Steps to Partnership Reinvention

1. Understand the need for change (analysis of the current situation).

2. Consciously refocus on the needs of the resource.

3. Agree upon strategic goals, objectives and deliverables.

4. Refine the structure and composition of the partnership to meet needs and achieve goals.

5. Clearly define roles and responsibilities.

Analysis of the Current Situation (2009)

Interviewed 56 Stakeholders

►USFS staff►FTA staff and board members►FTA members and volunteers►Land managers

Findings►The FNST did not have a clear identity►FNST land managers were not actively

engaged in the strategic discussions …completion, maintenance, and safety

►Trail and recreationist needs outpaced the current resources, capacity and structure of FTA

April 2010 FS/FTA Partnership Meeting

►Systematic, objective process – Steps 1 and 2

►Status of FS/FTA Partnership

►Needs of the FNST Program

Strategic Framework►Mission►Vision►Trail Description►Optimum

Recreation Experience

►Audience►Imperatives

Mission►The USFS and its partners work to

complete, protect, maintain and promote the FNST as a distinct Florida recreational asset and to ensure an optimum nationally significant recreation experience.

Vision►The natural and cultural resources of

the trail corridor are protected and conserved to afford a unique scenic trail experience. A complete FNST provides a seamless, optimum recreation experience enjoyed and appreciated by diverse audiences. The FNST has broad community and citizen support and engagement.

Description►The FNST is a federally-designated,

non-motorized trail that represents the diverse natural, scenic, cultural and historic character of Florida.

Optimum Recreation Experience

►As a National Scenic Trail, the FNST provides readily available, safe, educational, and memorable opportunities across a spectrum of challenges;

►Recreationists can expect signage, maintenance, accessibility, and interpretation to be standardized and to meet best trail management practices;

►Recreationists recognize and identify their experience as part of the larger, distinct National Scenic Trail experience.

Audience►The current audience is residents who

live within 30 miles of the trail and use the trail as much for hiking as for other non-motorized uses.

►People report that they enjoy the trail for being in nature and for physical activity.

Imperatives►Complete the trail.►Update the comprehensive plan.►Bring the trail to consistent standards and

ensure maintenance to those standards.►Promote the entire “whole” as the distinct

FNST to create and foster a brand.►Ensure fully-functioning productive

partnerships.►Ensure a more diverse funding base from a

broader group of engaged partners.

FNST Partnership Model► FS/FTA long partnership

history► Future depends on a

different model 58 land management

areas 28 different land

management partners

Strengthening the role of land managers in the partnership was imperative to the future of the FNST.

FNST Coalition►Established as a group of FNST land

managers and partners that would work collaboratively in the best interest of the resource (FNST) and to further the unique recreational experience that the resource provides.►Not a decision making body.

►Provides strategic level oversight of resource management issues associated with the FNST.

FNST Coalition Members► Director, Florida Forest Service► Director, Division Recreation and Parks, Florida Department of

Environmental Protection► Director, Office of Greenways and Trails, Florida Department of

Environmental Protection► Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission► President, Florida Trail Association► Manager, Northwest Florida Water Management District► Senior Manager, Plum Creek Timber Company► Professor-Outdoor Recreation, University of Florida, School of Forest

Resources and Conservation► Director, Seminole County, Greenways and Natural Lands Division► Commander, Eglin Air Force Base, United States Air Force► Superintendent, Big Cypress National Preserve, United States Park

Service► Refuge Manager, St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, USDI-Fish and

Wildlife Service► Forest Supervisor, National Forests in Florida, United States Forest

Service

Coalition Members are dedicated to:

► Coordination among all partners► A cooperative relationship with landowners built on voluntary

participation► Using best current and available data from which to base

decisions► A shared vision and aspirations for the success of the FNST

Strategic Implementation Plan

►Built upon the Strategic Framework crafted at the April 2010 FS/FTA meeting.

►Goals/Objectives/Deliverables for next 5 years.

►Creates a more focused approach to the completion, protection, management and promotion of the FNST.

4 Goals►Complete the Trail: Add 100 new

scenic and designated miles of FNST towards completion of a high quality trail.

4 Goals►Standards: 100% of existing

designated FNST meets the recreation, information, and interpretive trail standards within its resource classification category of 1 – 5.

►Partnerships: Each of the FNST land managers proactively contribute to Trail development, maintenance and promotion of their segment as part of the larger whole.

4 Goals

►Promotion: 100% of Trail recreationists know they are on the FNST, know the significance of the Trail, and know how their experience is part of the larger whole.

Strategic Plan Implementation

►Objectives and deliverables defined for each Goal. Some examples: Evaluating and assessing trail corridor

location and condition…State of the Trail report.

Establishing a centralized, up-to-date data platform electronically available to coalition members.

Defining trail standards...parking, signage, information expectations…based on trail classification.

Florida National Scenic Trail Strategies and Annual

Deliverables

Partnership Reinvention Timeline

Need fo

r Cha

nge

Identi

fied USFS - FTA

Partners

hip Meeting

Strate

gic Fra

mework

/

New Pa

rtners

hip Mode

l

FNST C

oalitio

n Form

ed

Strate

gic Pla

n Publ

ished

Strate

gic Pla

n

Implement

ation

Oct. 2009

April 2010

May 2010

Nov. 2011

June 2012 - 2013

July 2010

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles and ResponsibilitiesUSFS Vision and leadership Financial resources Strategic plan implementation

coordination Administrative responsibility for the

FNST

Roles and ResponsibilitiesFlorida Trail Association Primary non-profit

partner who administers a volunteer program to maintain the FNST

Monitors condition of trail and associated facilities

Roles and ResponsibilitiesCoalition Members Share in the

implementation of the 5-Year Strategic Plan

Participate in bi-annual meetings

Participate in working groups to address emerging issues

Bring resources to the table: Expertise Information Staff time Funding Networks

Successful Outcomes of Reinvention

Communication Shared vision Holistic approach Common, consistent message

Planning 5-Year Strategic Plan Common goals Clear deliverables

Implementation Clear roles and responsibilities Increased capacity – time,

expertise, funding Accountability to the trail and

each other Bigger voice for the FNST

A Pathway to the Future

www.fs.usda.gov/FNSTwww.floridatrail.org

www.conservationimpact.com