Trust for Public Land Launches Partnership to Expand Access Along the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Florida National Scenic Trail
Trust for Public Land, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, and the Florida Trail Association are proud to announce a new partnership focused on expanding public access and closing critical connectivity gaps along the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the Florida National Scenic Trail.
As part of this effort, partners will launch the Wildlife Corridor Access Improvement Grant program, a new funding opportunity designed to support trailheads, public entry points, and other capital improvements that expand access to outdoor recreation assets within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will officially go live on July 1, 2026.
By supporting new trailheads and public access points, the partnership aims to make Florida’s natural landscapes more accessible to residents and visitors alike while encouraging greater appreciation for the state’s unique ecosystems and wildlife habitats. The program is expected to award one grant totaling $150,000 to an eligible applicant located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Funding for the initiative is supported by the Disney Conservation Fund.
“The Florida Wildlife Corridor represents one of the most ambitious conservation visions in the country, and expanding safe, welcoming public access points is essential to helping Floridians connect with these landscapes,” said Melissa Hill, Senior Project Manager for Trust for Public Land. “Through this partnership, we hope to improve access to nature while supporting recreation, conservation awareness, and community connections across the state.”
The initiative supports a broader vision of connecting people to the outdoors through strategic investments in recreation infrastructure that improve access to trails, conservation lands, and outdoor experiences.
“Conservation within the Florida Wildlife Corridor began over a century ago. Each generation has a role. Passing along an understanding and affection for our wildlife and wild places is a key ingredient in ensuring this effort will persist. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation is grateful for this partnership and the hope it inspires,” said Jason Lauritsen, Chief Conservation Officer of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.
“One of the best ways to get people to care about conservation is to get them outside experiencing it for themselves,” said Sean Amidon, Executive Director of the Florida Trail Association. “Florida still has some truly incredible wild places, but for a lot of people they can feel just out of reach. This partnership is about creating more ways for families, hikers, and everyday Floridians to actually get out there, explore, and build a connection with nature. Once people experience the Corridor and the Florida National Scenic Trail firsthand, protecting it becomes personal.”
To help prospective applicants learn more about the funding opportunity, partners will host an informational webinar on Friday, June 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST. Additional information about webinar registration, eligibility requirements, and application materials can be found here: https://www.tpl.org/our-work/florida-wildlife-corridor
Together, Trust for Public Land, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, and the Florida Trail Association are working to ensure that more Floridians can experience and enjoy the landscapes that make the Florida Wildlife Corridor one of the state’s greatest natural treasures.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, in Florida alone, TPL has protected more than 185,000 acres of public land and created more than 470 parks, trails, and iconic outdoor places. Nationally, TPL has raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
