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2005 Project of the Year
The Friends of Oscar Scherer Park, Inc were recognized in 2005 by the Florida Park Service for winning the 2005 Project of the Year. This project was a complete rehabilitation of the trails in the park and include all new signage along the trails as well as all new maps for visitors. The following is a description of the project.
Over the years at Oscar Scherer State Park, maintenance and upgrades have been needed to keep Park trails in optimum condition. Recognizing this, members of the Friends of Oscar Scherer Park Inc., the Citizens Support Organization for the Park, developed a plan to transform and update the trail system using volunteer labor coupled with the quantum advances in technology in mapping, graphic design, and signage.
Project planners from the Friends enjoyed the enthusiastic endorsement and help from park personnel and a host of volunteers. Each aspect was submitted for approval to Oscar Scherer’s Park Manager. In many cases, this necessitated clearance by Biologists and Education Specialists at the District level before work could get underway. Regular users of the park also provided invaluable guidance and suggestions.
The project was broken down into tasks. Starting with the most needed, it proceeded in a logical fashion to minimize disruption and confusion for those hiking the trails during the year long project which was begun in February 2005.
The first task was to use Global Positioning System (GPS) to record the geographical location of every feature on the trails. Volunteers outfitted with GPS backpacks walked every inch of the trails shooting signals to satellites which were bounced back and recorded as data describing the person’s location and distance between data points.
The data was then downloaded into a geographic information system (GIS), a mapping system used to create maps that accurately displays the geographic location of features such as roads, buildings, waterways, and other natural and man-made reference points. Features specific to Oscar Scherer Park resulting from the GPS effort were combined to create detailed maps. Files from the GIS system were created in a format that provides the best detail for professional graphic artists and sign makers.
Vineyard Graphics, a Sarasota graphic arts company, utilized the files to create precise, attractive, easy to read maps. First, they designed an “all trails” map on an 11x22” page that folds into quarters, making it portable. One side displays the entire trail system with major features of each of the six trails. The reverse side of the map contains a brief description of each trail, trail advisories, and information about the Friends of Oscar Scherer along with a title page. The map was printed in color. This map can be downloaded from the Oscar Scherer State Park Website.
H&H Signs of Venice, Florida took the same information and created all of the signs for the project.
 They designed three 4 x 6 feet map boards showing the overall trail system. Signs were constructed using POLY-ROUT®, an ideal material for areas that require long-lasting, durable signs because of exposure to the elements. Text and trail features were routed into the signs. A map insert was created for the three large signs and imbedded into the map board. This map was printed and sealed between two layers of lexan. No other plastic can match lexan's combination of light transmittance (clarity) and ability to withstand extreme conditions.
The map was inserted into the sign with security screws. These signs have a 20-year life expectancy even in the severe weather conditions found in Southwest Florida.
H & H Signs constructed trailhead signs of the same material which provide information and a map outline at the beginning of each trail, and new signs along Park roads provide directions to trails.
A workgroup of volunteers spent months placing 4 x 4 posts in the ground and attaching colored arrows matching each
 trail name with weather- and tamper-proof screws.
Some of the trails were redesigned to give hikers choices of shorter and longer routes. For example, on the Yellow Trail you now can choose to hike two, three and a half, or the full five miles with each route clearly marked. The South Creek Nature Trail was extended 100 yards to make it more convenient for users to locate the trailhead.
Smoothing the way for hikers has always been a top consideration of this project. Planners noted that two of the bridges on the Yellow Trail showed signs of wear and were too narrow for small service vehicles such as ATVs or utility vehicles which do maintenance such as brush removal and mowing. As a result, both bridges were replaced with steel based supports and new decking including safety handrails.
An observation bench was constructed overlooking an interior lake in the park for wildlife and waterfowl viewing. Completely ADA compliant the four foot high observation bench is accessed with a wheelchair accessible ramp.
The Friends of Oscar Scherer used its own funds for this project. $25,000 was budgeted for the project and funds were raised by the Friends through a charity fund 5K race, sponsorship of several other Friends hosted events in the park and augmented by dues, donations and profits from merchandise sales. Clearly the need to refurbish the trails at Oscar Scherer was there. The end result is a state-of-the-art trail system that is on the leading edge of available technology. Now, when hiking the trails at Oscar Scherer, you pass with ease through a variety of beautiful landscapes.
This project was led by Bob Sendrey and Russ Delaney of the Friends of Oscar Scherer Park. Participation included approximately 8-12 members of the Friends working four hours a day, two days a week. Additional planning time and purchase of materials resulted in over 3000 hours of volunteer work from the Friends. Additionally, the Friends were augmented by park ranger support, District level training and technical personnel as well as occasional assistance from an Americorps team of five personnel
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