Hiking, bicycling and horse riding trail access growing in Martin County

South Florida Water Management District and Martin County partner to improve four access points on public land

Already a sightseer's paradise filled with native wildlife, Allapattah Flats is one of four publicly owned land areas becoming more accessible for hikers, bikers, horse enthusiasts and hunters in Martin County.

A new trailhead and parking area is already open at Allapattah Flats Wildlife and Environmental Area, and similar facilities are planned on South Florida Water Management District land at the C-23 Levee, Pal-Mar East and Cypress Creek. Recreation enhancements to these areas are being developed in partnership with Martin County, which has agreed to maintain and keep the facilities open to the public for at least 25 years.

It's a good deal for residents, particularly in western Martin County where there's a growing demand for more recreation opportunities, said County Commission Chairman Mike DiTerlizzi.

Plans started in 2005 to improve access at Allapattah Flats, inspired District and County officials to work together to improved other access points on available property, said Chuck Barrowclough, county environmental lands administrator.

"The agreement can be amended at any time to add additional sites as other opportunities become evident," Barrowclough said. "That's the exciting part."

The official grand opening ceremony for the trailhead at Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area is at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17, and includes a trail tour.

The District contributed $60,000 to develop the Allapattah Flats trailhead using a design created by Martin County. That design, including a kiosk showing trail routes and a post and railed shell-rock parking area, will be repeated at the other three sites, all planned to be finished by 2008. More enhancements may be developed at Pal-Mar East, since part of that land was purchased with state grant money, Barrowclough added.

It's the C-23 Levee though that's scheduled to receive the next recreational upgrade with the District spending $25,000 and Martin County spending $26,000 on the joint project, said BJ Kattel, a District recreation planner.

A bonus planned for Equestrian enthusiasts at the C-23 Levee trailhead is a parking lot designed to accommodate horse trailers. In addition, trails at Allapattah Flats will connect with trails along the C-23 Levee, giving riders, hikers and bike riders more territory to explore. Trail connectivity through Jonathan Dickinson State Park is also one of the County's long-term goals for Pal-Mar East and Cypress Creek, Barrowclough said.

For information about the grand opening celebration at Allapattah Flats, contact Baret Beall at (772) 219-4930 or e-mail at bbeall@martin.fl.us . To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 95 take exit 110/CR 714 and travel west approximately three miles. The entrance is on the north side of the road.

For information about hunting at Allapattah Flats, and other publicly owned lands, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website at http://www.myfwc.com/ .

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