Foundation Projects and Activities

Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference
July 9 - 12 2009 -- The Paramount Plaza Hotel, Gainsville, Florida
From its humble beginnings several years ago, this annual gathering of trail advocates, trail volunteers, trail managers, public agency officials and trail planners and policymakers has grown to include hundreds of participants. Every year, the SETC increases its influence in bringing the horse trail world together to help understand, shape and solidify trail policies and agency-user cooperation.

Learn how to effectively work with land managers. Learn trail design and construction. Discover great places to ride/drive in the Southeast. Find out how to handle trail issues. Learn the whys and wherefores of trail using, maintaining and building.

The idea of a meeting of equestrian trail minds throughout the Southeast grew several years ago (2000) with an initial conference at Clemson University. SETC stayed at Clemson till 2003, at which time it started its rotation around the South East. Florida started the rotation July 2003. The SETC now includes 13 states whose horse councils or other equine trail organizations meet to learn from one another as well as agency and professional trail personnel. A wide mix of participants and different user groups brings to the forefront trail issues at every level, and the event has grown to national importance. The Federal Highway Administration has supported the conference from the beginning and recognizes it as the only national conference with this scope. The purpose of SETC is to bring together people who are concerned about the future of the natural and cultural heritage of the trail experience from the back of a horse. SETC strives to foster equestrian self-evaluation, learning and the development of a conservation force that will influence land-use policies at local, state, regional and national levels. http://www.southeasternequestriantrails.com
E-mail SETC2009@aol.com

DONATIONS BUILD BOUNDLESS PLAYGROUNDS

Thanks to a generous donation by the Felburn Foundation, Florida's greenway and trails system features an extraordinary amenity that gives children of all abilities the opportunity to learn and play freely together. Funds contributed by the Felburn Foundation provided for the construction of a barrier-free Boundless Playground on the Cross Florida Greenway at the Baseline Road Trailhead just north of County Road 464 on County Road 35 in southeast Ocala. Boundless Playgrounds enable all children - including those with physical, developmental, cognitive and sensor disabilities - to experience independent, self-directed play. Playground equipment is sensory rich so children with developmental and sensory disabilities can actively and safely play with their peers.

Additional funds from the Felburn Foundation will support construction of another Boundless Playground on the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail. The location of these well-designed playgrounds on state trails allows for even greater public accessibility, since most of Florida's Boundless Playgrounds are located on school properties and therefore have limited hours of operation.

Such extraordinary playgrounds encourage everyone to be in the middle of play, including interaction with parents or grandparents who may also require a barrier-free situation. The Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation is proud to facilitate the creation of Boundless Playgrounds on the State's greenways and trails - giving all children, with and without disabilities, the chance to enjoy the natural wonders of the environment as they learn together through play.