Broward Urban River Trails (BURT) is a coalition of public, private, environmental, not-for-profit, and corporate organizations formed to pursue and effect programs for protection of natural resources of the New River system and area economic revitalization. The council is composed of roughly equal representation from stakeholder groups including government, homeowners, businesses, environmental interests, landowners, educators, historians and recreational interests.

Broward Urban River Trails is devoted to:

• Protecting our waterways from past and future pollution
• Preserving our waterways’ historic elements
• Enhancing our waterways recreational assets
• Sponsoring waterway cleanliness projects
• Teaching youth the vital part our waterways play in our lives
• Researching and upgrading water quality

Program description & Highlights:

Canoe / Kayak Launch Facilities

The Rev. Samuel Delevoe Park became the first location for providing non-motorized waterway access to North Fork New River for both recreational use and for a staging area for our numerous ongoing waterway cleanups. Another access site near Pond Apple Slough is currently underway with projected opening in fall, 2006. Broward Urban River Trails hopes these sites will serve as the model for many others throughout Broward County’s Greenways & Trails system also underway.

Adopt-a-Waterway

Working with our partners, Florida Atlantic University’s Florida Atlantic Planning Society, Wildlife Research Team, South Florida Water Management District and exceptional volunteers such as Kevin Carter of Broward County Environmental Protection Department, Broward Urban River Trails has for more than five years been removing debris from waters of the North Fork New River. While we no longer find it necessary to pull automobiles and shopping carts from this water body, we continue to keep busy removing items carelessly tossed by some motorists, passengers and pedestrians. Such debris includes Styrofoam containers, cans, bottles and other loose items subject to blowing into the water with the slightest breeze.

NFNR Cultural & Historical Survey

Funded by the Florida Department of State Historical Preservation Division and the SFWMD, BURT sought to find and tell the stories of the people living along the banks of the North Fork New River for generations. The purpose has been to focus attention on this invaluable treasure to restore a sense of pride and ownership to this part of the river once referred to by a former county commissioner as “the ditch.”

NFNR Design Guidelines for Neighborhood Pocket Parks

An identity crisis plagued 12 neighborhoods – some in Ft. Lauderdale, the rest in unincorporated Broward County – when BURT became involved in the restoration efforts of the area, specifically the North Fork New River. With input from numerous neighborhood charrettes, consensus emerged to transform neglected street dead ends running down to the riverbank into landscaped neighborhood sources of pride.  Now benches and waste receptacles encourage pedestrian access to riverside enjoyment.  One example is the Ann Murray Greenway in Fort Lauderdale's Tarpon River neighborhood.   Funding and support is sought for more of these greenways.

NFNR Signage project

Part of the identity crisis revolved around lack of understanding on the importance of the river and its historic role. BURT sought to identify for both residents and visitors where historically significant and environmentally important highlights have occurred along North Fork New River so they can be recognized, celebrated and cherished. Signage, reflecting community input during creation from beginning to end -- serves to mark such historic and environmentally sensitive areas. Examples are the historic Dorsey-Riverbend neighborhood, the Sweeting Estate, century-old Cypress trees and Lafeyette-Hart Park.