FELLSMERE — Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker asked the County Commission today to partner with Fellsmere in applying for a federal transportation grant to complete a 17-mile stretch of the Trans-Florida Central Rail Greenway Trail.
“This trail has the potential to become a significant aspect of Indian River County,” Nunemaker told commissioners.
The trail follows a historic railway corridor and would extend from the Indian River Lagoon to the headwaters of the St. John’s River.
The project would involve a partnership between Fellsmere, Fellsmere Water Control District, private landowners and, possibly, the county.
According to Nunemaker, the trail would be “a major milestone providing considerable opportunity for eco-tourism and economic development,” with multiple trailhead parking lots, signage highlighting historic elements and perhaps an overlook allowing walkers to observe elephants in the proposed National Elephant Center.
Nunemaker asked the Commission to provide in-kind support services for design and construction oversight, coordination efforts at the state level and a cash match of $100,000 that he said would increase the likelihood of receiving grant money for the project.
Commissioners instructed staff to work with Nunemaker to come up with a recommendation and to see if there is any impact fee money that can be tapped to provide a cash match.
In order to act prior to an Oct. 31 grant application deadline, commissioners will consider the matter again at their next meeting on Oct. 18.
If funded the $7.4 million project will be paid for mainly by a $5.6 million federal grant.
