River of Grass Greenway (ROGG) awarded $1 million grant

Great news! The River of Grass Greenway (ROGG), championed by the Naples Pathways Coalition, has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in the Parks Program.

The grant will be administered through RTCA (Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program; National Park Service). The main objective of the grant is to do a master plan, to include preliminary engineering and design. This grant program is the same one that awarded an alternative transportation grant in 2007 (and now phase II in 2010) for the Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve on Sanibel.

What is the River of Grass Greenway (ROGG)?

Parallel to the Tamiami Trail (US. 41), the ROGG will be a hard-surfaced 12-14 foot wide corridor (separated from the highway) suitable for a range of non-motorized recreation activities such as bicycling, walking, bird-watching, photography, fishing, and general enjoyment of the greater Everglades natural area.

The goal of the ROGG is to extend from Krome Avenue (eastern edge of Everglades National Park near Miami) to the outskirts of Naples/Marco Island (western terminus to be determined). In the middle, there will be a three mile spur to Everglades City.

For more information, see the ROGG website, or contact Maureen Bonness,
River of Grass Greenway Committee, Naples Pathways Coalition
maureenb@evergladesROGG.org