7—1 

Chapter 7 - Implementing the Florida 

Outdoor Recreation Plan 

gether as an interconnected system. While 

tremendous progress has been made in acquiring the needed lands and providing the 

facilities and programs to support public use 

of the lands, relatively little has been done to 

integrate the efforts of the providers. The 

following statement is intended to describe 

an ideal, but as yet unrealized, recreation 

system for the state. 

Florida’s ideal outdoor recreation system will be a diverse, connected and 

balanced system of outdoor recreation 

resources, facilities and programs that 

provides the state’s residents and visitors with a full range of outdoor recreation opportunities, regardless of their 

age, gender, ethnic background, economic status, physical or mental ability, or location within the state. The 

system will be coordinated at the state 

level with all agencies and suppliers 

working in tandem, and with ample 

opportunity for the public to participate 

in decision making. It will further the 

public’s understanding and appreciation of Florida’s environment and outdoor recreation resources. 

Goals 

Several broad, overarching goals have been 

developed for Florida’s outdoor recreation 

system based on the information gathered in 

developing this plan. Since achieving these 

goals will require the full participation and 

support of many other agencies and organizations, both public and private, the goals 

are expressed in a manner that should allow 

their adoption by existing and potential partners. The goals are as follows: 

The preceding chapters of the plan have 

identified the current supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities, assessed 

statewide and regional demand and needs 

for recreation opportunities, and discussed 

the issues and trends that will affect outdoor 

recreation in Florida. This chapter outlines 

the plan’s recommendations for implementing the state’s outdoor recreation program. 

A System of Lands 

Florida’s diverse public and private outdoor 

recreation lands, facilities, programs and 

managing agencies are bound together by 

one universally common trait - their ability to 

provide public recreational opportunities of 

one type or another. These various areas 

and the users they serve can be viewed to-
7—2 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

Planning 

Many suggestions were aimed at improving 

planning coordination among recreation providers. To some degree, this is already being done on the state level. Statewide land 

acquisition planning to support outdoor recreation is coordinated through DEP’s Division of State Lands and the Acquisition and 

Restoration Council. Land management 

plans for state owned lands are developed 

with public input from the local level and 

multi-agency review through the Acquisition 

and Restoration Council. Statewide greenways and trails planning is coordinated by 

DEP’s Office of Greenways and Trails 

through the Florida Greenways and Trails 

Council. Planning for the provision of offhighway vehicles on public lands is coordinated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's Division of 

Forestry (DOF) through the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee. 

As part of the re-authorization of Florida Forever, new requirements were created to improve coordination in land management 

planning and ensure more uniform reporting 

of land management data and accomplishments. New land management plans will 

include detailed information on outcomes, 

goals and objectives for a wide range of 

management areas, including public access 

and recreation infrastructure. The quantitative data collected for these plans will be 

standardized to allow for uniform reporting. 

In addition to these improvements, the following recommendations are intended to 

further the existing planning and coordination processes. 

1. Improve communication, coordination and 

cooperation among Florida’s many public 

land management agencies and outdoor 

recreation providers. 

2. Improve communication, coordination and 

cooperation between outdoor recreation 

providers and the public - user groups, 

non-profit organizations and other private 

interests. 

3. Support the continuation and expansion of 

land acquisition programs for conservation 

and outdoor recreation throughout the 

state. 

4. Provide additional opportunities for resource-based and user-oriented recreation in both urban and rural areas, with a 

wide range of facility development from 

the primitive to the fully developed. 

5. Support programs to broaden the public’s 

participation in outdoor recreation activities.

6. Improve access to recreational opportunities for persons of all ages and abilities. 

7. Promote a stewardship ethic, encourage 

volunteerism, and increase the public’s 

understanding of the value and importance of Florida’s public lands and their 

natural and cultural resources.

8. Increase funding and revenue generating 

capabilities for outdoor recreation. 

Recommendations 

The following recommendations stem from 

the suggestions received at the public workshops and from other information gathered 

during the plan’s development. They are 

presented as specific actions that can be 

taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other agencies 

and organizations in the state to achieve the 

broad goals of the plan. 
7—3 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

cient means for implementing the new 

land management planning requirements 

created by the re-authorization of Florida 

Forever . They should also work together 

to determine a method for assessing the 

recreation values of proposed Florida Forever land acquisition projects as part of 

the evaluation system maintained by the 

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 

4. Local governments that have not already 

done so should evaluate current and future local recreation needs and address 

those needs in their local comprehensive 

plans. Local recreation plans should be 

developed in a regional context in cooperation with other recreation providers in 

the region. 

5. DEP should continue to work through existing advisory and coordination bodies to 

promote outdoor recreation and assist 

those bodies in planning to meet future 

outdoor recreation needs at the local, regional and statewide levels. 

 

Interagency Coordination, Cooperation 

and Partnerships 

There is a common perception that land 

managing agencies must do more to improve communication and cooperation with 

each other and with the public they serve. 

Responsibilities for providing recreation opportunities are widely dispersed among a 

number of public agencies and private suppliers, each functioning independently of the 

others with little coordination between them. 

The overlap of responsibilities among providers can result in a surplus of resources 

and facilities in some areas and deficits in 

others. Improved coordination, cooperation 

and partnerships among agencies would 

benefit the overall effort to provide recreation 

opportunities and could generate solutions 

to many of the issues facing outdoor recrea1. DEP should improve the usefulness of the 

statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan as a planning tool for public and 

private recreation planners. The plan 

should place greater focus on coordinating 

the outdoor recreation efforts of the state’s 

land management agencies. A new assessment of statewide outdoor recreation 

demand and need should be completed 

prior to developing future plans. The outdoor recreation inventory should be improved by establishing criteria for defining 

certain facilities, by converting the inventory to Geographic Information System 

technology, and by incorporating methods 

to field-verify the data. Cooperation by 

local, state and federal agencies will be 

essential to these efforts. 

2. DEP should continue using its Web site as 

a primary means for making the statewide 

comprehensive outdoor recreation plan 

available to the public. It should promote 

the plan as the framework for a systems 

approach to recreation provision and management, and should encourage other 

public, private and non-profit recreation 

providers and user groups to play a larger 

role in the plan’s development and implementation. The Web site should continue 

to provide a forum for feedback from the 

public and outdoor recreation providers. 

3. State land managing agencies should 

work together to determine the most effi-
7—4 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

such as the re-authorization of Florida Forever, Florida can help ensure that its residents and visitors have an adequate supply 

of land available for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. 

Florida’s public land “estate” may be significant, but public access to many areas is inadequate. A perception exists that public 

conservation lands are “locked up” after they 

are purchased, and that the public often 

loses the access that existed before the 

lands were acquired. While most public land 

is available for some type of public access, 

not enough priority has been given to opening land for appropriate recreational use. 

Often, this requires that basic facilities like 

parking and restrooms be provided to support public use and prevent damage to resources. Improving public access to public 

lands is a necessary part of building needed 

public support for the acquisition of public 

conservation lands. The following recommendations are intended to further that effort. 

tion in Florida. The following recommendations are intended to further this goal. 

1. DEP should initiate efforts to conduct a 

statewide forum on outdoor recreation to 

stimulate the coordination of efforts 

among public and private suppliers. 

2. DEP should develop a mechanism for coordinating the outdoor recreation efforts of 

state land managing agencies. 

3. DEP should develop a Web site for the 

public to obtain comprehensive information about outdoor recreation opportunities 

in Florida. The Web site would offer information about outdoor recreation areas 

and link to Web sites maintained by other 

providers. 

4. Recreation agencies should coordinate 

sharing information for the outdoor recreation inventory to minimize unnecessary 

duplication of efforts and ensure a single 

data source that is kept accurate and upto-date. 

Acquiring and Managing Conservation 

Lands 

The most essential element in Florida’s outdoor recreation system is land upon which to 

recreate. Florida is fortunate to have a legacy of successful and well-supported land 

acquisition programs through which it has 

assembled an “estate” of public conservation lands exceeding 6.6 million acres. Local 

governments and federal agencies have 

contributed tremendously to this effort, bringing an additional 6.2 million acres of conservation lands into public ownership and management. As large as these acreages may 

seem, they will not be enough to meet the 

needs of Florida’s projected population of 

nearly 22.5 million in 2020. Through efforts 

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, 

Wakulla County 
7—5 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

quiring park lands and constructing, maintaining and operating park facilities. Many 

park and recreation agencies are faced with 

limited or unstable sources of funding to 

support their various programs. At the federal level, funding sources such as the Land 

and Water Conservation Fund program have 

been reduced to near-subsistence levels or 

discontinued altogether. At the state level, 

historically stable funding sources such as 

the Land Acquisition Trust Fund have been 

capped at previous years’ levels, limiting 

their ability to provide the funds needed to 

meet the increasing demands of a growing 

population. Local governments face the 

challenge of declining real property values 

and limitations on their ad valorem tax revenues. Weathering the current economic 

conditions will require creative financing and 

sound management by all park and recreation agencies. Ultimately, additional funding 

will be required to maintain current levels of 

recreational services and meet future needs. 

The following recommendations should be 

implemented to improve funding for outdoor 

recreation. 

1. The National Park Service should encourage federal legislation to create a funding 

mechanism adequate to support a longterm and stable financial assistance program to help serve state and local recreation needs. 

2. DEP and the Department of Community 

Affairs (DCA) should continue to provide 

financial assistance grants to local governments and non-profit organizations to 

meet the highest needs for acquiring and 

developing parks, recreation areas, greenways and trails. 

3. State and local recreation providers 

should increase and coordinate efforts to 

identify sources of public and private grant 

1. Public land managing agencies should 

ensure that all lands under their management are open for appropriate public access as soon as possible after acquisition. This should be done in a way that 

does not compromise the resources of the 

lands or the missions of the managing 

agencies. 

2. Public land management agencies should 

review their public access and recreation 

plans and their existing access facilities to 

determine where additional public access 

can be provided without compromising 

resources or their management missions. 

3. Resource management and restoration 

activities on public lands should be greatly 

expanded. Most lands in public ownership 

were degraded to some extent prior to acquisition, some extremely so. Lands that 

are in a high quality condition often require 

substantial resource management effort to 

maintain them in that condition. Activities 

such as prescribed burning, exotic species 

removal and hydrological restoration are 

vital to providing and maintaining the highquality natural and cultural resources that 

support resource-based recreation. 

4. Wherever possible, local governments 

should continue acquiring and managing 

environmentally significant and other conservation lands that do not meet criteria 

for state purchase. These lands play an 

indispensable role in the state’s overall 

conservation and recreation land acquisition program, and are vital to meeting 

many needs for resource-based recreation. 

Funding 

There is no escaping the fact that meeting 

the needs of Florida’s growing population 

inevitably requires adequate funding for ac-
7—6 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

for better long-term decision-making about 

natural and cultural resources and the environment. The following recommendations 

for state and local agencies are proposed to 

help ensure success in Florida’s efforts to 

inform and educate the public on environmental concerns. 

1. DEP should continue its public awareness 

and education activities, and its partnership efforts with local schools to inform 

and educate the public about Florida’s environment through the Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) program and 

through interpretive programs provided at 

managed areas. 

2. Public schools in Florida, in partnerships 

with the Department of Education and 

public park and recreation agencies, 

should continue to integrate environmental 

education for children and adults throughout their curricula to increase awareness 

of the threats to and benefits of Florida’s 

natural systems. 

3. DOF should continue to educate the public on protection of forest resources 

through its Florida Forest Discovery Center, Future Farmers of America Forestry 

Contest and Summer Camp, Florida 

funding to meet outdoor recreation programming and park development needs. 

4. State and local recreation providers 

should seek greater use of joint, publicprivate partnerships to help provide financial support for outdoor recreation programs and activities. 

5. All park and recreation agencies should 

maximize the use of volunteers and citizen-based support organizations to supplement their existing resources and personnel. 

6. The Florida Recreation and Park Association, the Trust for Public Land, The Nature 

Conservancy and other organizations 

should continue to provide technical assistance to local governments and citizen 

groups for identifying alternative sources 

of revenue and enacting local land acquisition programs. 

Environmental Education 

The magnitude of environmental issues facing Florida today is such that they cannot be 

resolved without broad-based public understanding and support. These issues and 

problems present unique opportunities if 

used as a focus for a sound, wellcoordinated environmental education program. Broader and more intensive educational efforts are needed and should be directed toward achieving two basic objectives. First, the public must be impressed 

with the relationships between the natural 

and built environments, the impacts of human activities on the environment, and the 

environmental values of parks and open 

spaces. A second essential objective is to 

help the public take greater advantage of the 

outdoor recreational opportunities available 

to them and to get more enjoyment from 

their recreational experiences. In achieving 

these objectives, prospects can be improved 

Ocala National Forest, Marion County 
7—7 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

cies can help support healthy lifestyles by 

ensuring access to public lands and waters 

for people of all ages and abilities through a 

high quality system of parks, greenways and 

other natural areas. Recreational resources 

are vital not only to improving people’s lives 

and promoting active, healthy living, but also 

to fostering a deeper appreciation for Florida’s natural and cultural heritage. The following recommendations should be implemented to promote outdoor recreation as a 

means to facilitate active and healthy living 

by the state’s citizens. 

1. State land managing agencies should coordinate with the Governor’s Council on 

Physical Fitness to increase public awareness of the need for and benefits of 

healthy and active lifestyles. 

2. Public park and recreation agencies 

should continue efforts to create and promote outdoor recreation activities throughTeachers Forestry Tour and related programs. 

4. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission should continue to inform and 

educate the public on Florida’s wildlife resources through educational camp programs, educational training for educators 

of K-12 grade students, outdoor skills and 

safety programs, and Florida’s Wildlife 

Legacy Initiative. 

Active and Healthy Living 

The connection between good health and 

physical activity is widely recognized, and 

one of the best avenues to physical activity 

is through participating in outdoor recreation 

activities. Florida’s public lands and waters 

provide opportunities for relaxation and solitude, exercise and activity, and challenge 

and risk. Public park and recreation agenAnastasia State Park, St. Johns County 
7—8 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

out the state in cooperation with private 

interest groups, non-profit organizations 

and volunteers. 

3. Public park and recreation agencies 

should continue to work with local planning, growth management and greenway 

and trail programs to improve the ability of 

Floridians to walk and bicycle to work, 

school and other daily activities, and to 

provide public outdoor recreation opportunities. 

4. Public recreation providers, schools, universities and community colleges should 

continue and improve efforts to open their 

recreation and exercise facilities to members of the public at reasonable times and 

during reasonable hours. 

Tourism 

Tourism is vital to Florida and helps fuel the 

growth of a healthy and competitive state 

economy. Planning for the state’s overall 

outdoor recreation system must take into 

account the substantial demand that tourists 

and seasonal residents place on public outdoor recreation resources and facilities. All 

public recreation providers and land management agencies should be mindful of the 

important role they play in Florida’s efforts to 

promote, market and advertise its outdoor 

recreation opportunities to domestic and international travelers and state residents. 

The recommendations that follow are intended to support Florida’s tourism marketing programs and strengthen their relationships with the state’s outdoor recreation system. 

1. State land managing agencies should 

continue and expand their cooperative 

marketing relationships with VISIT FLORIDA to emphasize nature-based and cultural heritage tourism and to promote visitation to the state’s public conservation 

and recreation lands. 

2. All public park and recreation providers 

and land management agencies should 

incorporate multilingual, multicultural and 

diversity considerations in their marketing 

activities, agency Web sites, on-line brochures and printed interpretive materials. 

3. Land management agencies should pursue partnerships with tourism marketing 

programs in rural communities that are 

located near under-visited management 

areas to promote greater exposure of their 

sites. 

4. Public park and recreation providers and 

land managing agencies should ensure 

that accurate, up-to-date information on 

their areas is available at VISIT FLORIDA 

welcome centers located at the state’s 

major highway borders. These centers 

are key distribution points for maps and 

guides for automobile travelers. 

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities for 

All People 

Florida’s public lands exist for the benefit 

and enjoyment of all the people. The Americans with Disabilities Act became law in 

1990 but there is still much concern today 

over equality of access to public lands and 

the recreational opportunities they provide. 

Compliance with the Act involves much 

more than simply removing physical barriers 

to people with disabilities. Among its many 

other provisions, the Act also requires that 

all reasonable efforts be made to ensure that 

facilities, programs and services are accessible. Although architectural design standards have been established and are commonly used to meet the Act’s requirements 

for facility accessibility, far less progress has 

been made toward eliminating barriers to full 

participation in recreation programs and ser-
7—9 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

vices. Many park and recreation agencies 

are embracing “universal design” concepts 

to ensure that their facilities, programs and 

services are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities, without the need 

for adaptation or specialized design. For 

example, instead of designing a building entrance to include an accessibility ramp next 

to a set of stairs (a common accessibility design), universal design uses a gently sloped 

entry with no stairs. The following recommendations are made to improve accessibility by people of all ages and abilities to the 

recreation opportunities provided at Florida’s 

parks and recreation areas. 

1. Outdoor recreation providers should develop and implement schedules for identifying and eliminating architectural barriers 

in existing facilities under their management. 

2. Outdoor recreation providers should take 

measures to ensure that all people, including those with disabilities, receive the 

same opportunities to participate in and 

enjoy the benefits of recreation programs 

and activities. 

3. Outdoor recreation providers should consider adopting principles of universal design in all programs for constructing facilities, providing visitor programs and other 

activities. 

4. Outdoor recreation providers should develop and strengthen partnerships with the 

Agency for Persons with Disabilities and 

organizations such as the Florida Disabled 

Outdoors Association to educate themselves and the public, and to provide recreational activities and programs for people of all abilities and ages. 

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, Franklin County 
7—10 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

Florida’s Waters 

One of the clearest messages received at 

the public workshops is that Florida must do 

more to preserve opportunities for public 

recreational access to the state’s waters. 

This begins with protecting Florida’s water 

resources themselves. Maintaining freshwater and saltwater resources in a fishable, 

swimmable condition involves a complex 

and science-based system of federal, state 

and local regulatory and enforcement programs. Each component of this system 

must ensure that its efforts are maximized 

toward protecting and improving the quality 

of Florida’s water resources. A particular 

concern that needs to be addressed is Florida’s springs, a unique and highly popular 

recreational resource. Nutrient pollution 

from a variety of sources, such as excess 

fertilizer use, septic systems and stormwater 

runoff is causing harmful changes in water 

chemistry that must be addressed immediately if Florida’s springs are to remain available for public use and enjoyment. 

Most Floridians get their drinking water from 

groundwater. In some of Florida’s most developed areas, groundwater withdrawals 

combined with persistent drought conditions 

have resulted in the loss of thousands of 

acres of wetlands, significant reduction in 

the surface areas of lakes, and reductions in 

spring flows. It is essential that Florida conserve water while devising solutions that will 

meet the needs for drinking water, agriculture, and industrial use, without harming the 

water-dependent natural systems that support not only outdoor recreation, but the 

quality of life in general. 

As Florida continues to grow, many water 

bodies that are accessible today will become 

inaccessible due to development. A combined effort by federal, state and local governments is needed to ensure that funding 

continues to be available to acquire land for 

public recreational access to waters of the 

State of Florida while these lands are still 

available. In many areas, even where water 

bodies are accessible, they are unusable 

due to the lack of public facilities. While the 

regional demand and need estimates in this 

plan are not capable of identifying local 

needs, there is an obvious need to fund the 

development of additional boat ramps, canoe launches, docks, catwalks and piers, as 

well as support facilities such as parking and 

restrooms. The following recommendations 

are made for protecting water resources and 

improving public access to Florida’s public 

waters. 

1. All levels of government, working with the 

private sector, should identify alternative 

means of meeting public demand for water through developing alternative water 

supplies such as seawater, brackish surface and groundwater, storm water and 

reclaimed wastewater. 

2. Clean-up and rehabilitation efforts for specific water bodies, such as Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee 

Rivers, the Everglades and the waters surrounding the Florida Keys, should be continued and strengthened. 

3. DEP should continue to provide funding to 

support construction of public facilities in 

springs, monitor spring water quality and 

oversee other restoration activities to help 

ensure that springs remain available for 

public use. 

4. DCA should continue to provide planning 

assistance to local governments in adopting effective land development regulations, such as the Model Land Development Code, for protecting Florida’s 

springs. 
7—11 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

5. Funding should continue to be made available through the Florida Forever program 

to acquire land for increased water access, preservation of working waterfronts, 

environmental restoration, and water resource protection and supply. 

6. Reduce the amount of nutrient pollution 

that enters Florida’s waters through programs that teach the public about where 

nutrients come from and what they can do 

to help. 

7. Local governments should maximize the 

use of local comprehensive planning processes to increase public access to Florida’s waters by preserving recreational 

and commercial working waterfronts and 

identifying sites for public and private recreation. 

8. Public recreation providers should identify 

water areas under their jurisdictions where 

inadequate recreational access exists or 

where existing water access can be improved, and give priority to making the 

needed improvements. 

Greenways and Trails 

Florida has pursued a systematic approach 

to meeting trail-based recreation needs and 

creating connections between public lands 

since 1979. The Florida Greenways and 

Trails System, composed of 785,000 acres 

Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Columbia County 
7—12 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

of public lands and waterways and 1,200 

miles of linear trails, is Florida’s primary 

means for designating trails and greenways 

for appropriate management and public 

use. Strong partnerships between trail providers and advocacy organizations have 

been a key element in the success of the 

system. Trails and greenways have become 

fundamental components of Florida’s outdoor recreation and transportation systems. 

In the future, they will play an even more important role in determining urban design and 

quality of life in Florida’s communities. 

Opportunities to participate in some types of 

trail activities are being lost as more of the 

state’s private lands are being committed to 

urban development. Focused attention will 

be needed to provide adequate land and facilities for such activities and to avoid conflicts with other users. Freshwater and saltwater paddling trails, the first trails to be systematically designated and managed in Florida, would benefit from a more coordinated 

approach to management. The following 

recommendations are made for maintaining 

and expanding the statewide greenways and 

trails system for recreation, conservation 

and alternative transportation in cooperation 

with land management agencies, local communities and trail support groups. 

1. DEP should expand the statewide greenways and trails system by acquiring corridors with regional and statewide significance, utilizing funds allocated from Florida Forever. 

2. DEP should expand the designation of 

trails and greenways as components of 

the Florida Greenways and Trails System, 

particularly in parts of the state that are 

currently under-represented in the system. 

3. DEP should complete its update of trail 

opportunity maps to identify potential locations for new trails and greenways and 

guide the allocation of acquisition funds for 

trails and greenways. 

4. DEP should continue to provide, through 

the Office of Greenways and Trails, techBig Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail 
7—13 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

nical assistance to local communities with 

emphasis on identifying opportunities for 

cross-jurisdictional and regional trail connectivity. 

5. DEP should maintain and strengthen its 

working relationships with trail-related advocacy and support organizations. 

6. DEP, working with DOF, should expand 

opportunities for motorized off-highway 

vehicle (OHV) recreation in Florida 

through effective administration of Recreational Trail Program grants and by building 

strong relationships with the OHV community. 

7. DEP, working with the various land management agencies, should determine 

methods for increasing coordination in 

managing freshwater and saltwater paddling trails. 

8. All public land management agencies, in 

cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service 

and the Florida Trail Association, should 

work toward completing the Florida National Scenic Trail and providing new hiking opportunities in the state. 

9. The Department of Transportation should 

continue to provide assistance to local 

communities and trail user groups in providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities for 

public recreation and improving transportation access in urban areas. 

Relative Need Priorities Index 

If implementation capabilities were great 

enough, all needs could be approached simultaneously and priority would be largely 

immaterial. Since this is not the case, a priority system is the only logical solution. To 

aid all providers of public outdoor recreation 

in determining where their land acquisition 

and development efforts should be directed, 

the Division of Recreation and Parks has 

devised a set of “relative need indices,” 

which prioritize (from highest to lowest relative need) both the resource-based and 

user-oriented outdoor recreation activities in 

this plan. For the purposes of this plan, relative need is defined as the ranked, proportional relationship among all outdoor recreaWithlacoochee Bay Trail, 

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway 
7—14 

Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 2008 

tion needs for each basic type of activity. 

The relative need indices compare the 

needs from any one activity in any one region, with the needs for all activities in all 

regions, and establish the priority ranking 

among them. Separate indices were computed for 2010, 2015 and 2020 projected 

needs. For a detailed description of the relative need methodology, refer to Appendix K. 

Table 7.1 displays the 2010 relative need 

priorities for all levels of outdoor recreation 

supply. Appendix K contains the relative 

need indices for projected 2015 and 2020 

needs. While no single supplier of outdoor 

recreation can be expected to meet the total 

public recreation demand, these indices provide each supplier a general guide as to the 

recreational activity (and its region) requiring 

the most immediate attention. 

The relative need indices can make an important contribution in helping all agencies to 

efficiently allocate their funding resources. 

Still, they must be recognized as only one of 

several basic criteria to consider in committing these resources. While far from providing precise measurements of outdoor recreation need, the relative need indices constitute a general guide which can be readily 

adjusted whenever there is significant 

change in either the demand for or supply of 

outdoor recreation resources or facilities. 

The biennial update of the supply inventory 

and the periodic surveys of outdoor recreation participation will provide the necessary 

data to compute revised indices and to assess progress made toward meeting present 

and projected outdoor recreation needs. 

Consequently, priorities for acquisition and 

development of resource and facilities can 

be re-established accordingly. 
7—15 

Rank Activity Region Need Index Rank Activity Region Need Index

1 Picnicking 6 8270 36 Soccer or Rugby 6 21262 RV/Trailer Camping 6 5540 37 Saltwater Beach Activities 4 20983 Picnicking 9 5257 38 Horseback Riding 6 20424 Picnicking 8 4899 39 Baseball or Softball 1 19885 Saltwater Beach Activities 1 4734 40 Saltwater Beach Activities 2 19866 RV/Trailer Camping 9 4389 41 Saltwater Beach Activities 8 19607 Football 6 4318 42 Picnicking 1 19038 RV/Trailer Camping 8 4081 43 Outdoor Tennis 11 18529 Baseball or Softball 6 4007 44 Golf 6 1844

10 RV/Trailer Camping 7 3772 45 Football 5 181811 Football 10 3523 46 RV/Trailer Camping 5 178912 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 11 3470 47 Picnicking 10 176813 Picnicking 11 3429 48 Nature Study 2 175914 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 6 3150 49 Nature Study 5 173815 Baseball or Softball 8 3036 50 Baseball or Softball 5 170116 Football 11 3002 51 Outdoor Tennis 10 168717 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 4 2942 52 Golf 11 165818 Picnicking 7 2892 53 Football 9 164419 Saltwater Beach Activities 9 2864 54 Baseball or Softball 7 164220 Golf 10 2806 55 Football 1 164021 Baseball or Softball 4 2799 56 Nature Study 9 163622 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 9 2722 57 Baseball or Softball 9 163223 Football 8 2702 58 Saltwater Beach Activities 10 162324 Baseball or Softball 10 2651 59 Outdoor Basketball 11 159125 Baseball or Softball 11 2613 60 Picnicking 4 158126 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 8 2579 61 Golf 8 158127 Nature Study 6 2563 62 Outdoor Basketball 10 155328 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 6 2560 63 Outdoor Tennis 6 155329 Outdoor Basketball 6 2496 64 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 6 151930 Picnicking 5 2464 65 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 6 151731 Saltwater Beach Activities 11 2438 66 Football 3 144432 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 10 2224 67 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 11 143733 Saltwater Beach Activities 6 2194 68 Outdoor Basketball 8 142334 Football 4 2169 69 RV/Trailer Camping 11 139635 Golf 9 2167 70 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 2 1387

Table 7.1

2010 Relative Need Index Priority Ranking
7—16 

Rank Activity Region Need Index Rank Activity Region Need Index

71 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 4 1353 106 Soccer or Rugby 10 84472 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 7 1312 107 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 5 84273 Nature Study 11 1307 108 Freshwater Beach Activities 8 83974 Outdoor Tennis 8 1293 109 Outdoor Basketball 9 82975 Soccer or Rugby 11 1291 110 Baseball or Softball 3 82876 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 6 1280 111 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 5 82677 Outdoor Basketball 4 1238 112 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 6 81678 Picnicking 3 1185 113 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 11 81379 Outdoor Tennis 9 1167 114 Horseback Riding 4 79480 Nature Study 4 1163 115 Golf 1 79081 Nature Study 3 1152 116 Outdoor Shuffleboard 6 77982 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 5 1145 117 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 6 77483 Nature Study 7 1144 118 Soccer or Rugby 9 77284 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 1 1133 119 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 11 77285 Soccer or Rugby 8 1109 120 RV/Trailer Camping 1 76886 Nature Study 8 1095 121 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 9 76787 Golf 4 1077 122 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 1 76488 RV/Trailer Camping 10 1045 123 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 11 76389 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 7 1043 124 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 4 76090 Outdoor Basketball 5 1038 125 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 2 75791 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 1 1033 126 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 8 75292 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 8 991 127 Tent Camping 6 74693 Soccer or Rugby 5 972 128 Outdoor Tennis 4 74694 Soccer or Rugby 4 953 129 Horseback Riding 3 73395 Baseball or Softball 2 950 130 RV/Trailer Camping 4 73296 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 9 948 131 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 4 731

97 Horseback Riding 5 947 132 Horseback Riding 8 72298 Picnicking 2 933 133 Nature Study 10 70899 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 9 933 134 Outdoor Basketball 3 700

100 Soccer or Rugby 3 924 135 Soccer or Rugby 1 696101 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 5 913 136 Horseback Riding 7 693102 Football 7 894 137 Football 2 692103 Hunting 9 871 138 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 9 688104 Golf 7 865 139 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 6 684105 Outdoor Shuffleboard 8 849 140 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 8 677

Table 7.1 (continued)

2010 Relative Need Index Priority Ranking
7—17 

Rank Activity Region Need Index Rank Activity Region Need Index

141 Outdoor Basketball 7 673 176 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 2 430142 Golf 5 664 177 Outdoor Swimming Pool Use 3 429143 RV/Trailer Camping 3 663 178 Hiking 6 422144 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 9 660 179 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 2 420145 Hunting 2 650 180 Soccer or Rugby 2 418146 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 1 641 181 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 10 411147 Tent Camping 5 636 182 Hunting 1 410148 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 8 628 183 Outdoor Tennis 7 400149 Nature Study 1 624 184 Freshwater Beach Activities 6 399150 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 9 619 185 Hunting 6 390151 Hunting 5 601 186 Freshwater Beach Activities 10 388152 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 3 600 187 Hiking 2 373153 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 7 584 188 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 11 368154 Horseback Riding 10 580 189 Outdoor Basketball 2 367155 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 3 573 190 Outdoor Shuffleboard 11 366156 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 1 534 191 Hiking 4 357157 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 9 527 192 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 5 357158 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 3 525 193 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 8 346159 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 6 517 194 Freshwater Boat Ramp Use 8 332160 Outdoor Tennis 1 516 195 Outdoor Shuffleboard 10 327161 Outdoor Basketball 1 509 196 Hunting 11 325162 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 10 509 197 Hiking 3 318163 Hiking 5 508 198 Hunting 4 312164 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 11 506 199 Hiking 7 308165 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 10 488 200 RV/Trailer Camping 2 302166 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 7 488 201 Outdoor Tennis 5 301167 Outdoor Shuffleboard 7 485 202 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 4 300168 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 4 482 203 Hiking 10 293169 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 10 469 204 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 10 290170 Outdoor Shuffleboard 9 469 205 Horseback Riding 11 280171 Horseback Riding 9 465 206 Hunting 10 279172 Soccer or Rugby 7 453 207 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 4 266173 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 10 443 208 Hiking 8 260174 Hiking 9 437 209 Tent Camping 1 260175 Horseback Riding 2 432 210 Tent Camping 9 251

Table 7.1 (continued)

2010 Relative Need Index Priority Ranking
7—18 

Rank Activity Region Need Index Rank Activity Region Need Index

211 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 5 248 246 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 3 124212 Hiking 11 246 247 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 5 118213 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 10 237 248 Tent Camping 10 117214 Horseback Riding 1 237 249 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 7 115215 Hunting 3 236 250 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 2 110216 Tent Camping 3 225 251 Freshwater Beach Activities 9 91217 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 4 225 252 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 5 91218 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 8 224 253 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 3 91219 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 1 222 254 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 3 91220 Saltwater Boat Ramp Use 2 219 255 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 1 88221 Hiking 1 212 256 Freshwater Beach Activities 11 85222 Tent Camping 4 210 257 Freshwater Beach Activities 1 84223 Tent Camping 2 208 258 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 2 80224 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 1 204 259 Outdoor Shuffleboard 4 78225 Outdoor Tennis 2 204 260 Outdoor Shuffleboard 1 77226 Outdoor Shuffleboard 5 201 261 Freshwater Beach Activities 5 72227 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 7 192 262 Freshwater Beach Activities 4 59228 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 5 188 263 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 1 58229 Golf 2 185 264 Freshwater Beach Activities 2 48230 Outdoor Tennis 3 183 265 Freshwater Beach Activities 3 45231 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 3 179 266 Hunting 7 40232 Golf 3 168 267 Outdoor Shuffleboard 3 37233 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 7 164 268 Hunting 8 36234 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 10 155 269 Saltwater Beach Activities 5 18235 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 11 150 270 Saltwater Non-Boat Fishing 3 17236 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 9 149 271 Outdoor Shuffleboard 2 9237 Tent Camping 8 135 272 Saltwater Beach Activities 3 8238 Freshwater Non-Boat Fishing 2 135239 Freshwater Beach Activities 7 134240 Tent Camping 7 134241 Bicycle Riding - Unpaved Trails 11 132242 Outdoor Handball/Racquetball 4 128243 Visiting Historical or Archeological Sites 8 128244 Bicycle Riding - Paved Trails 2 127245 Tent Camping 11 126

Table 7.1 (continued)

2010 Relative Need Index Priority Ranking
Florida Department of Environmental Protection 

Division of Recreation and Parks 

Office of Park Planning 

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building 

3900 Commonwealth Boulevard 

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 
Florida Department of Environmental Protection 

Division of Recreation and Parks 

3900 Commonwealth Boulevard 

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 

www.floridastateparks.org