History of the FPTA & the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
Inaugural FPTA meeting on October 15, 2007
First FPTA President Hank Brooks
The idea of a paddling trail extending around Florida's peninsula was conceived by environmental lobbyist and paddler David Gluckman in the 1980s after seeing the establishment of the 350-mile Maine Island Trail system. It wasn't until 2004 that the state of Florida began to seriously consider the possibility of a "circumnavigational" trail, based in part on the successful completion of the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail from the Aucilla River to the town of Suwannee by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In the fall of that year, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) hired Doug Alderson to begin scouting the trail. Alderson, an avid outdoorsman, professional writer, and photographer, had assisted in writing the guide for the Big Bend Trail. Early trail segments were established in the Amelia Island and Panama City areas.
In 2005, the 1515-mile Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (or “CT”) was officially designated by the Florida Legislature as part of the Florida Greenways and Trails System (Title XVIII, Chapter 260 Florida Statutes). Scouting for the trail was completed in the summer of 2007. Another highlight that summer was its designation as a national recreation trail by the United States Department of Interior. As the trail neared completion, media outlets were helping to make the trail known to paddlers and the general public. Articles appeared in Undiscovered Florida/National Geographic Traveler, Canadian Geographic, The Palm Beach Post, The Tallahassee Democrat and other publications.
Year President
2024 David Chen
2023 Dorsey DeMaster
2022 Dorsey DeMaster
2021 Joe Webb
2020 Esther Alonso-Luft
2019 Jill Lingard
2018 Jill Lingard
2017 Jill Lingard
2016 Jill Lingard
2015 Jill Lingard
2014 Tom McLaulin
2013 Tom McLaulin
2012 Tom McLaulin
2011 Tom McLaulin
2010 Hank Brooks
2009 Hank Brooks
2008 Hank Brooks
2007 Hank Brooks
In October 2007, Alderson organized a statewide gathering in Homosassa Springs to form an independent non-profit association to help maintain and improve the CT. More than 70 people took part in this history-making event. Regional representatives and segment "trail keepers" from throughout the state were chosen. A subsequent board meeting in Cedar Key adopted by-laws, set up committees to help operate the non-profit group, and agreed on an official name—the Florida Paddling Trails Association.
For its first president, the new board elected Safety Harbor resident Hank Brooks, a retired business consultant and former president of the Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers. Board members attending that first meeting included Ray Hetchka of Fernandina Beach, Fred Borg of Panama City, Gerry Gaudet of Deerfield Beach, Krueger Nicholson of Long Key, Gary Breedlove of Tallahassee, Doug Alderson of Tallahassee, and Marv Phelps of Brooksville. In December 2007, FPTA was officially incorporated by the State of Florida, and the first newsletter was sent to nearly 1,000 paddling enthusiasts around the state.
By February 2008, FPTA launched its website with help from Brooks, Alderson, Ed Schessl, John Norris and Bill Reynolds, and the first membership brochures were printed. The group began raising the initial funds necessary to operate the association.
Throughout 2008, the new volunteer operations manager, John Norris, and others began giving talks to paddling clubs around the state. They soon realized that the majority of Florida paddlers enjoy paddling the state’s inland rivers, lakes, and springs. Association leaders decided to expand their scope to also cover Florida’s vast network of inland waterways. FPTA began its evolution as an umbrella organization that embraced all paddling trails in Florida. In 2009, new interior regions and segments were added for a total of 15 regions and 32 segments statewide.
With a grant from the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation, Hank Brooks spearheaded the Paddlers Environmental Toolkit Training program in 2009. Through this training, more than 350 paddlers were taught to serve as the “eyes and ears” of Florida paddling trails, recognize and report environmental problems, and learn basic plant and animal identification.
In 2010, work continued to add more paddling trails and trip reports to the website, to develop a comprehensive online calendar, and to fill board positions. FPTA’s new mission became “to serve as a resource and voice for Florida paddlers." Dan Thompson and others began to raise more revenues through grants, memberships, and business sponsors to help the all-volunteer organization carry out its mission. Incoming president Tom McLaulin spearheaded the FPTA Blueways Communities project. By 2016, a total of 40 communities and 15 counties participated and earned recognition as paddling-friendly destinations.
The first statewide gathering of CT paddlers was held at Silver Springs State Park May 16-18, 2014, organized by OGT's Liz Sparks with FPTA as the main sponsor. By then, enough paddlers had completed the entire CT to help build momentum by starting annual gatherings around the state. "Trail angels,” people who reside near the coast and help paddlers on the trail, were honored. Along with other section paddlers and trail supporters, six thru-paddlers attended the gathering and shared entertaining stories of their CT adventures: Carl Anderson, Ian Brown, Jim Windle, Marc DeLuca, Gus Bianchi and Daniel Alvarez. The Ocala Star Banner published a feature article about the gathering. Besides hosting the annual CT gathering, the FPTA began to support the Florida Paddlers Rendezvous, the Hidden Coast Paddling Festival, and the Loxahatchee River Race.
In fall of 2015, the FPTA board elected new leaders. Jill Lingard became president, Monica Woll was the new Secretary, Deb Akin agreed to serve as treasurer, and Dan Thompson agreed to continue as vice president until spring when the position would be filled by Esther Luft. "Where water is concerned, I enjoy the intersection of recreation, discovery and stewardship," said incoming president Jill Lingard. "I have come to learn that FPTA fills that bill beautifully."
FPTA initiated the Legacy Fund in 2016. Volunteer donations coupled with a grant from Paddle Nation enabled 42 boys and girls to attend paddling camps around the state that summer. Since then, Legacy Fund donations have sent nearly 150 children to summer paddling camps, helping to develop Florida's next generation of paddlers and waterway stewards.
The organization has provided annual support to the Florida Paddlers Rendezvous, the Hidden Coast Paddling Festival, and many other regional paddling events throughout the state, in addition to hosting the CT Reunion each April. Thirty-five CT paddlers have completed the 1,515-mile journey and a growing number of trail angels across the state remains committed to assisting them along the way. FPTA also oversees a robust Facebook group which offers paddlers a forum to share their travels, photos, gear tips, and any news that impacts our sport or the environments we so enjoy exploring.