PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Feb. 21, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kaycee Lagarde
850-435-1623
klagarde@cityofpensacola.com

Pensacola Blueway Community Proclamation
Set for Feb. 24

The City of Pensacola will take the next step toward becoming a Florida Paddling Trails Blueway Community with a proclamation by Mayor Grover Robinson on Monday, Feb. 24.

The proclamation will take place at the City Council Agenda Conference, which begins at 3:30 p.m. in Hagler-Mason Conference Room on the second floor of City Hall, 222 W. Main St. It will proclaim Pensacola as a Florida Paddling Trails Blueway Community, part of a program that helps communities develop locations of interest to both in-state paddlers and out-of-state tourists. 

Prior to the proclamation, a Florida Paddling Trails Association representative will give a brief presentation to City Council outlining the benefits of the Blueway Community designation for Pensacola. 

The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department and a volunteer group of paddling enthusiasts have been leading efforts to become part of the Florida Blueway Community. 

Florida's climate, natural surroundings, and vast navigable waterways make our state an ideal destination. The state of Florida has over 50 designated paddling trails on various rivers and streams as well as the 1,515 mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. Recreation enthusiasts seek nature-based tourism destinations, resulting in local economic stimulus and increased public awareness of natural Florida.

Casual paddlers, day paddlers, and weekend paddlers all want to enjoy the outdoors, and Pensacola will become the western gateway to their experience via the Florida Paddling Trails.

For a community to apply for Florida Blueway Community status, key criteria includes:

• Proximity to a Florida paddling trail or Blueway
• Availability of accommodations, from hotels to B&Bs to campgrounds
• Availability of restaurants and places to eat
• Additional outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking and biking trails, birding, boating, fishing, beaches or traditional visitor draws such as historic districts, museums, shopping and major attractions

For more information or general questions, email pio@cityofpensacola.com. To stay informed about what's happening with City of Pensacola government, sign up for email or text notifications through Notify Me or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.

The City of Pensacola adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations for access to city services, programs and activities. Please call 435-1606 (or TDD 435-1666) for further information. Requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the event in order to allow the city time to provide the requested services.