“Reel Talk” from the City of Destin
By Tamara Leigh Young, PhD, Public Information Director for the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village
TY: Last month in Destin Life we talked about updates to a City park. So, keeping in the green space theme, the Florida Sun Trail seems like a fitting topic. For those that might not know, the Sun Trail is a statewide project of paved corridors for pedestrians and bicycle use. How will this impact Destin?
BW: I believe this trail will forever change the way locals move around in Destin. Imagine being able to safely and enjoyably bike or walk to any park or business from your front door, no matter where you live! The “Gulf Coast” portion of this trail network runs through Destin, from the Marler Bridge to Miramar Beach via Scenic 98. This allows us to access funding to design and build this 12-foot-wide multimodal pathway through Destin to complete the gap.
TY: For our area, one of the latest pieces to our multi-modal plan is the proposed Linear Trail. It’ll be a 1-mile path from 98 Palms Boulevard – the east end – to Airport Road.
BW: The Linear Trail is a game-changer for the center of town and completes one of the longest gaps in our future Sun Trail. This trail will provide a scenic, safe and direct route for pedestrians and cyclists, linking Main Street to Morgan Sports Center and everything in between, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the outdoors away from vehicles.
TY: I often walk for reward, usually to a latte at East Pass Coffee or The Palms Bistro! But seriously, this city is gorgeous, and it just makes sense to have more places for people to be outdoors walking and biking. What else as Mayor do you have in store for the area?
BW: We’ve got big plans! All three Sun Trail Projects we applied for were voted on and received the top three priorities from the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization. In addition to the Linear Trail, we also have the Harbor Board Walk expansion under the Marler Bridge and the Cross Town Connector pathway that will run parallel to the soon-to-be new road. Pair these Sun Trail projects with the upcoming City of Destin mobility plan, and we will soon be a pedestrian paradise!
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