Blountstown Officially Designated A Gateway Community

Posted by
Kelli Peacock Dunn
in News
Thursday, December 10. 2009
Comments (2)
The City of Blountstown was officially designated a Gateway Community on the Florida Trail Saturday at a ceremony held outside the M & B Train Depot Museum along the Blountstown Greenway.

“Our local residents use this trail on a daily basis and we have people from other areas coming here just for the trail,” Kristy Halley Terry noted during the ceremony.

City Manager James Woods pointed out that future generations will be grateful this portion of our community was preserved for them to enjoy.

Florida Trail Association officials, along with Mayor Winston Deason, City Council members, Tony Shoemake and David Blair, and Blountstown Greenway volunteers, were also on hand for the ceremony.

As a Gateway Community, hikers, bicyclists, and others enjoying the trail are encouraged to make Blountstown a destination on their trek, stopping here to enjoy the rivers, restaurants, shops and other amenities. With thousands utilizing the Florida Trail for a nature based trip, the Gateway designation creates an opportunity for local residents to create businesses that will entice eco-tourists to spend some time and money in our community.

Blountstown is among only 10 Gateway Communities on the Florida Trail. The list includes Belleview, Clewiston, Crestview, Inverness, Milton, Moore Haven, Okeechobee, Pahokee, and White Springs. When hikers and other trail users are planning their adventure, they go to the Florida Trail Association website for guidance on where to stop and these 10 Gateway Communities are featured.

The Florida Trail has grown to over 1500 miles stretching across the state. With Calhoun County a part of this trail, opportunity awaits to serve the eco-tourism industry. If you’d like to try a new venture, Kristy Halley Terry at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce can offer much assistance and guidance on getting your idea off the ground. Give her a call at 674-4519 or email kristy@calhounco.org

For more on the Florida Trail, go to www.floridatrail.org
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#1 Patrick Brown on 01/29/10 at 09:14 AM [Reply]
Thanks,

Anyone local that wants to get more involved in the Floida Trail/Blountstown Gateway as a volunteer work please contact me.

This gateway community section of the Florida Trail Association in Blountstown is called "The Chipola Section"

Thanks,
Patrick (local FTA volunteer)
762-4448
#2 unregretably anonymous for now on 02/04/10 at 03:06 PM [Reply]
I applaud anything positive that takes place in the Blountstown community. As a past resident of Calhoun county(not that long ago im only 2 decades) how about a Recreation building for the children? Which would include tennis,a pool, basketball, and places for family reunions to greet each other. It could also include a mentoring program.I know things like this takes time and money but looking over the years i truly believe that this is something that is needed. You know give the young community some activities to take part in other than violence to keep them out of trouble and to just give them something to do. Coopers Park has had some work done but i propose would make a greater impact
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