The plan, dubbed ROGG, would lay 75 miles of
But support has not been unanimous for the project. As we reported in March, a coalition of Gladesmen and Native Americans set up a vocal opposition to the project. Their gripe: The project could have a serious environmental impact on a portion of the Everglades that's already been whipped and beaten by bad planning and development. Also, why spend so much money — government money — on a project that might not get a lot of
Apparently, some onetime supporters of the path have been listening to the critics. The Naples Pathway Coalition had previously endorsed ROGG. The group's board voted to end their participation with the project, a decision made public today. "The new board actually decided that considering the cost and the resources that we have in our organization, the River of Grass Greenway was no longer fulfilling our mission," Beth Brainard, the coalition's executive director, told New Times.
"Many of the board members felt this money, if it was going to be spent, would be better for making communities safer for bicyclists and walkers," he added. "There were also concerns about the environment and concerns that this would be a vast amount of money to spend for a minimal number of people."
However, the project is not completely off the table. Many stakeholders, including Miami-Dade county and the National Park Service, have also invested money in planning and feasability studies. Brainard added that some members of her group who still hope that ROGG will be built are forming their own nonprofit to
New Times reached out to opponents of the project. We'll update with their reaction.
