The East Coast Greenway

The East Coast Greenway trail system is a multi-use trail that starts in Maine on the Canadian border and ends in the Florida Keys. It is the longest trail of its kind in the country. The trail connects people using human power to communities and beautiful natural spaces, providing a route for both sustainable transportation and healthy recreation. This trail promotes community tourism as it travels through forests, fields, coastlines, towns and cities. 

On Black Friday, 1991, a small group of cycling advocates in New York City planned a 3,000-mile trail using existing paths to create a long continuous route along the Atlantic Seaboard. The East Coast Greenway Alliance has made connections between states, communities, trails, hearts, minds and the natural world. Karen Votava became the first paid executive director in 1996 and helped lead the alliance's early growth. One of the group’s goals is to find low-traffic routes that are low-stress, safe, and enjoyable, ideally with no cars.

The East Coast Greenway celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017 with a River Relay race. The relay started in Calais, Maine, and ended in Key West, Florida, lasting about 10 weeks. There were many public events, including community bike rides, walks, and paddles along segments of the greenway. A wide array of people collaborated to create this project, including local governments, watershed groups, and local organizations.

In 2020, the trail saw record use as the COVID-19 pandemic altered our lifestyles, and people searched for alternative outdoor activities. This green space filled a need to be outside in the fresh air. That same year, the length of the protected, off-road sections of the trail reached a milestone of 1,000 miles.

In 2021, the East Coast Greenway Alliance secured an astounding $550 million in public development money to complete the 3,000-mile project.

The trail is still a work in progress. The alliance continues to advance the route and make improvements. Currently, 1,100 miles of the 3,000-mile route are safe, off-road, and protected from traffic. The greenway trails connect 15 states and 450 communities along the Eastern Seaboard. An estimated 50 million people use the greenway trail system every year. From evergreens to palm trees, the East Coast Greenway trail system offers an amazing array of recreational opportunities, alternative transportation paths, gathering places, and a corridor for both humans and animals.

The East Coast Greenway provides habitat and trails for wildlife through their fragmented territories. Animals do not see state boundaries; they cross highways, golf courses, fields and fences. Animals need safe ways to peacefully move north and south along the coastal regions. Migrating animals can use connected trail segments of the greenway system that act as natural corridors. These trails let animals move between larger protected areas, such as state parks and wildlife refuges, without encountering roads and cities. For example, in Philadelphia, urban paths are linked directly to vital natural areas like the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.

The East Coast Greenway project promotes the conservation of vital lands through important natural habitat and wetlands. As additional property is incorporated into the greenway trail system, these acres become safeguarded green spaces.

On our island, we will add an additional 28 acres to our local Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway. While we are not on the official East Coast Greenway route to the Keys —- as many of the southern barrier islands are bypassed —- we can still join them in spirit. I am sure many of our local residents can appreciate how great it is to have a greenway!