Palm Bay paves way for trail lovers

BY GEORGE WHITE
FLORIDA TODAY

PALM BAY - Whether it be a family stroll along a scenic sidewalk, a hiking loop highlighting local flora and fauna, or a hard-core adventure for off-road bicyclists, south Brevard offers plenty of options.

"I think Palm Bay is biker- and pedestrian-friendly - including new pedestrian bridges we're adding near parks and schools - and there are probably more trail opportunities here and in South Brevard than any other part of the county," said Palm Bay Deputy City Manager Sue Hann, who is an avid mountain biker.

And the future for additional sidewalks and trails could be even brighter through citizen participation in the city's visioning process, she said.

"If we have a lot of citizen input, we can certainly continue to enhance our efforts, but we have to hear from them," Hann said.

The Community Visioning meeting for open space and recreation will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 at the Captain's House, 1300 Bianca Dr., NE.

Bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the crucial underpass at Interstate 95 at Fred Lee Park, trace through most of the city, including a historic walk and a seven-park trail starting at the Turkey Creek Sanctuary, which has an extensive boardwalk.

Looking at the larger picture in South Brevard, there are miles of smooth multi-use concrete path, such as the Boundary Canal Trail.

"I work in Titusville but I come home and go riding at least three times a week," said DeWayne Barbee, 42, of Palm Bay as he took a break from his 8-mile bike ride at the Boundary Canal Trail on Port Malabar Boulevard.

"I like to bring my girls, ages 8 and 6, because I know the trail is smooth and it's a safe environment. It's good that the city provides trails like this and I see more and more people out here," he said.

Praising Palm Bay for its efforts so far is Barbara Meyer, bicycle pedestrian program coordinator for the Brevard Metropolitan Planning Organization.

"The cities of Palm Bay and Malabar are certainly leading the way and have done an great job really embracing the idea of trails. It's outstanding what they have done already," Meyer said.

For those who prefer something a little tougher, there's a variety of trails in Palm Bay including Turkey Creek Sanctuary and a few smaller trails AIS Trail Park.

But that's only the beginning.

Heading south, there are hiking trails throughout the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary, the Micco Scrub Preserve and the massive St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, now being co-managed by the Florida Park Service and the St. Johns River Water Management District.

"I don't think a lot of people know we're here, but we have 60 miles of trails going through 22,000 acres or 35 square miles. It's so big that there are examples of 22 plant communities in here," Parks Service Specialist Gayle Heath said.

Future park improvements include a new visitor's center on Babcock Street, scheduled to open in February, and trail marking and other upgrades by a team of AmeriCorps volunteers, Heath said.

Horseback riding is allowed and dog walking is permitted if they are kept on a 6-foot leash. There are also six primitive campsites, she said.

Hikers are sometimes hard to find, but that is not the case for a growing group of mountain or off-road bicycle enthusiasts.

"There are a hardcore group of mountain bikers that love the trails as rough as possible, and we have that, too," he said, referring to the Turkey Creek trail, also known as the Ho Chi Mihn trail for it's jungle-like conditions.

A regular on the roughest trails is Palm Bay Public Works Director Jim Proce, 46, who is about as avid as one can find in the realm of mountain biking. He spent almost $4,000 on his best of three bikes.

A resident of Palm Bay since 1980, Proce has ridden many miles through Palm Bay unnoticed by traffic as he cuts cross-country through woods and along canals.

"There are trails all over the place and we're always finding more. Nobody built them. I like biking because you can have fun without leaving a trace.

"There are probably several hundred hard-core riders in South Brevard. Palm Bay and Turkey Creek are known for its trails but it's hidden at the same time," Proce said.

With an eye on the future, plans are in place to connect several of the existing trails as part of the South Brevard Linear Trail ending at the state park, Meyer said.

"We're talking to officials in Grant-Valkaria and Micco about extending the trail. It's an incredible opportunity, but it takes a lot of planning and, of course, funding," she said.

In the meantime, Palm Bay is proving to the rest of the county that trails are the way to go for all types of recreation.

"Trails are always interesting," Meyer said. "Everybody likes the idea, but people become apprehensive when you actually starting planning to put them in. The Boundary Canal Trail proves that, if done right and put in the right place, a trail can improve the quality of life.

"There are a lot of opportunities for trails in South Brevard. The trick is keeping them all coordinated."