Marco Island, already recognized for its sun, sand, and seaside charm, has recently been designated as a Florida Trail Town by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Specifically, the Office of Greenways and Trails Division of Recreation and Parks.
Marco Island is only the twenty-second community in Florida to earn this coveted moniker.
The foundation of a Trail Town, if leveraged properly, can unlock benefits for residents, visitors, and local businesses.
After almost 10 months of work, with the cooperation of Marco Island City Councilor Bonita Schwan, City Manager Mike McNees, Assistant City Manager Dr. Casey Lucius, and Director of Public Works Justin Martin, Marco Island was awarded the Trail Town Designation at the Quarterly Greenways and Trails meeting in Jupiter, Florida, on October 8, 2025.
This endeavor included a site inspection by the Regional Coordinator of the Greenways and Trails last March. Mr. John Groves met with city officials after his two-and-a-half-day investigation. Obviously, he came away with a favorable impression.
You may be wondering what it takes to earn the Trail Town title. Here is a short list of what we presented to the Office of Greenways and Trails.
Enticing Trail users to our Island.
Our world-class beach with its more than six miles of coastline and wildlife viewing.
Our historical marker tour including the Otter Mound Trail.
Rookery Bay and its environmental and educational tours.
The many guided tours such as the Dolphin Express, as well as Kayaking tours through the mangroves.
Connecting Trails clearly marked for safety.
Public Works has diligently marked most of the streets of Marco with “in-road” bike lanes. Shared Use Paths now display speed limit markings per the recent E-Bike ordinance.
The Shared Use Path (SUP) between Marco Island and Goodland is a favorite.
Hopefully soon, Collier County will find a way to install a SUP between the Goodland Bridge and Rt 41 (Tamiami Trail), thus completing the Marco Loop project, which will connect Marco Island to the entire State of Florida through connecting bike trails.
Information for Trail Users.
Marco Island, through the Chamber of Commerce and the city website, offers a variety of trail maps and brochures.
Educating Businesses on Economic Opportunities.
The business community needed no convincing of the opportunities a Trail Town designation has to offer. Full-service bike shops offer sales, rentals, and more importantly, timely repairs. Local restaurants and shops will see an uptick in their seasonal business.
Integrating the Marco Trail into the Island’s culture.
For those who visit the seasonal Farmers Market, there is no question regarding the popularity of bikers utilizing our bike paths.
The same enthusiasm can be seen at the Christmas Tree Lighting and parade.
Our culture surrounding the natural resources, fauna, and wildlife is front and center. How can anyone resist viewing our most famous residents, the Burrowing Owls and Gopher Tortoises?
Finally, our families of dolphins (I’m convinced they’ve been trained by Disney) appear on cue as soon as the Dolphin Explorer Boat arrives on scene.
Regional Collaboration with connectivity to other bike routes and venues.
Marco Island is part of a larger ecosystem of trails, preserves, and coastal features.
Working with the surrounding communities can only enhance the myriad of activities available to the entire area.
In conclusion, achieving this designation was a team effort. Thanks to the generosity of the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce and its director, Dianna Dohm, Matt Walthour of The Island Bike Shop, as well as members of the group of bikers (the former pseudo–Ad Hoc bike committee),Trail Town signage and markings are being funded by members of our biking community.
See the Florida Trail Town website for more information.