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Public commenter urges Lee County to prioritize access and connectivity for public lands
Summary
Marsha Ellis urged the committee to improve access and mobility to public lands, citing Stanford research linking accessible urban parks to higher physical activity and recommending Lee County follow through on funding for the Burt Veil Trail under the Conservation 2020 ordinance.
During public comment, Marsha Ellis urged the Conservation 2020 Committee to consider access and connectivity of public lands as a public‑health and economic priority.
Ellis said she has presented a PowerPoint to the MPO and posted materials on the MPO site that draw on Stanford University research. "The topic is access to and mobility to expand our public land networks. It's a key to health. It's a key to our economic vitality here in Lee County," she said. She recommended looking at funding and support for the Burt Veil Trail under the Conservation 2020 ordinance and asked the county to "step up on the funding there and make good on their promise to materialize that millage for the good of the people."
Ellis framed improved trail and park connectivity as benefiting vulnerable populations (children, older adults, and those who do not live in gated communities) and urged the committee to review the materials she posted on the MPO site for more detail.
Next steps: Ellis asked the committee to review the MPO‑posted materials and to consider prioritizing funding and coordination that supports trail connectivity and equitable access to public lands.
