Help blaze the trail to build the new 100+ mile trail system for people who walk, run, and bike
Naples is celebrated for its pristine beaches, luxury property, cultural art offerings and
thriving dining scene, but it falls short when protecting cyclists and pedestrians. Despite its exquisite quality of life and abundance of outdoor activities, the streets have become perilous for people who bike, walk, and run. Distracted driving, speeding, and decreased awareness of cyclists and pedestrians have resulted in numerous preventable crashes, fatalities, and injuries. Florida tops the charts for the most bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities, due to a lack of safe paths, laws protecting cyclists and awareness of how best to share the roads. With Collier County’s population continuing to explode, the problem locally is only growing, but there is hope and a plan.
The non-profit Naples Pathways Coalition (NPC) has been dedicated to transforming Collier County into a haven for pedestrians and cyclists for the last two decades. Its flagship project, the Paradise Coast Trail, along with various educational and public safety initiatives, symbolizes its commitment to fostering safe, bikeable, and walkable communities. Since its inception, NPC has been instrumental in shaping Naples’ pathway landscape – from influencing funding allocations for bike lanes to participating in key greenway projects and raising awareness of critical safety laws.
Education
NPC’s educational outreach efforts aim to teach all road users how best to share the roads, ensuring safer coexistence through community-wide speaking opportunities, training events and targeted outreach to vulnerable populations.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of bicyclists killed in traffic crashes has been steadily trending upwards since 2010. Not surprisingly, the vulnerable commuter cyclist population is especially at risk. Because the City of Naples has a large commuter cyclist population, who often ride their bikes long distances (early in the morning and late at night) after working labor-intensive jobs in restaurants, construction and hotels, NPC, along with supporters such as Auto Club Group Foundation and AAA, installs water-resistant bike lights and provides helmets, safety vests and anti-theft bike locks for commuter cyclists through their Lights for Bikes program. Because many of these commuters in Southwest Florida come from other countries with very different traffic patterns and laws, on-site language appropriate safety instruction is also provided.
NPC also provides essential resources and training to local law enforcement, ensuring they are well-equipped to enforce bike/pedestrian traffic laws.
Advocacy: Hands-Free Florida
Hands-Free Florida is the combined effort of several state and national organizations with a shared goal of preventing crashes and fatalities because of distracted driving throughout the state. Michelle Avola-Brown, NPC Executive Director, is leading the charge by providing educational opportunities and meeting with local, regional, and state organizations and leaders to advocate on behalf of the cause. The goal is to create safer roads (for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers) by putting stricter laws in place that will reduce distracted driving, save lives, and hold drivers more responsible for fatal crashes caused by distracted driving. HandsFreeFlorida.org gathers signatures through an online petition to help persuade lawmakers to support hands-free cell phone use legislation.
Paradise Coast Trail
Because of increasing danger on our roads, NPC recognized the urgent need for a safe, multi-use pathway system in Collier County to provide greater safety for people who walk, bike, and run modeled after the beloved Gordon River Greenway.
NPC saw the need and had the vision for a safe pathway system in Collier County because of the many benefits the trail would bring to residents and visitors including:
- increased safety with no fear of being hit by a distracted or aggressive driver while walking, running, or biking,
- no cost recreation
- fitness for every age and ability
- a healthier lifestyle and improved quality of life
- tremendous economic benefits
- expanded tourism offerings
In 2018, NPC introduced the vision for the Paradise Coast Trail, a 100+ mile biking, walking, and running trail that will be 10-12 foot wide, paved, separated from the road, and connect Naples to Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Collier Seminole State Park, the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Ave Maria, Everglades City, Immokalee and beyond. The trail will be 10-12 foot wide, paved and separated-from-the-road. When complete it will redefine Collier County’s quality of life, sparking healthier lifestyles, lifting property values, and ensuring safety for all who walk, run, or bike.
Through NPC’s advocacy efforts, the community’s financial support and key endorsements, they have made great progress on building the Paradise Coast Trail.
Momentum and Milestones
- 2019: Gathered stakeholders, City and County staff, and local business leaders to pitch the trail system and get buy in for the project.
- 2019: Hired engineering and planning consultant firm, Kimley-Horn to develop a strategy to build a 70-mile pathway system. The first big step was conducting a Feasibility Study.
- 2022: Secured $250,000 from the State and raised the $100,000 required match from our generous supporters for the Feasibility Study.
- 2022: Kimley-Horn engineers efficiently and thoroughly completed the survey of the entire 70-mile corridor.
- 2023: Legislators in Tallahassee voted to adopt the segment of the Paradise Coast Trail from Marco Island through Naples, the new Sports Complex, Ave Maria, Everglades City, and Immokalee into the State’s SUN Trail network. The portion of the trail from Collier Seminole State Park to Bonita Springs had already been included in the SUN Trail, so now the entire length of the Paradise Coast Trail is part of the State’s SUN Trail network. This is a massive win for Collier County!
- 2024: The planned Paradise Coast Trail has been expanded to provide 100 miles of paved, separated pathway within Collier County and become part of the master site plan for two regional trails, the 420-mile Gulf Coast Trail and the 220-mile Collier to Polk Trail.
- 2025: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to begin the Project Development and Environment study for the Livingston Road segment of the Paradise Coast Trail.
Why Advocacy Matters
Now that all 100+ miles of the Paradise Coast Trail is part of Florida’s SUN Trail network, there is even more power and funding to get the trail built in the shortest amount of time. Collier County and FDOT indicate it’s on track to complete most of the trail within five to six years. The four-mile Gordon River Greenway, which the Paradise Coast Trail will connect to, took 25 years to complete so it’s moving at lightning speed by comparison. NPC’s proactive approach and advocacy efforts have already cut five to seven years from the typical planning timeline.
Community Support Paving the Way
Support for the Paradise Coast Trail has been phenomenal. With endorsements from the Rail to Trails Conservancy, Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization, City of Naples and funding from the state and community, NPC is making great strides to ensuring that Naples will become known for the Paradise Coast Trail, not just its beautiful beaches, fine dining, and shopping.
Continued support will help blaze the trail and further their efforts to create a safe, bikeable, and walkable Collier County. To donate towards NPC’s advocacy efforts, education programs and to support the Paradise Coast Trail, visit NaplesPathways.org. You can also attend one of their annual fundraising ride and walks. Their next event is the 19th Annual TD Bank Naples Bike Brunch and Walk at Cambier Park on Sunday, March 2, 2025.