Multi-Regional Southeast Florida

"Web and Travel References Recognize South Florida’s Diverse, Multi-regional Profile" by v. johns, 7/19/11, 11:02 PM

I suppose it can be argued that South Florida + The Treasure Coast = Southeast Florida. I disagree. I believe that “South Florida” is indeed synonymous with “Southeast Florida.” For natives, longtime residents, and businesses with deep roots in our area, this is the way it has always been. Apparently, I am not without company on this matter. Below are four resources and references that put our region in its proper perspective: a seven-county super region, with a coastal urban core, consisting of the four state sub-regions of the Treasure Coast, the Gold Coast, the Florida Everglades and the Florida Keys.

This a screenshot of SoFlo.org’s Call to Action web page. Their findings are the basis for many of the arguments made on this site. SoFlo.org, maintained by Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban and Environmental Studies (FAU C.U.E.S.), is a very valuable resource for anyone seeking to contribute to the Southeast Florida landscape. FAU C.U.E.S. is at the forefront in outlining South Florida’s problems and challenges, while promoting cooperation among its many municipalities, agencies and jurisdictions.

The logo above represents all the hard work that has been done by FAU C.U.E.S., Enterprise Florida, FDOT, FDLE, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and the South Florida Regional Planning Council to build our state and region into a major hub of safe and sustainable communities that are attractive, innovative and business-friendly. Please note that the Southeast Florida Regional Partnership, as indicated at the bottom of the graphic, consists of representatives from seven local counties (Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe) across four state regions (the Treasure Coast, the Gold Coast, the Florida Everglades and the Florida Keys). Last year, the Regional Partnership, formerly known, in concept, as Southeast Florida: Vision 2060, scored a federal grant of 4.5 million dollars to begin developing a regional master plan for the entire seven-county area.

This highly-regarded travel guide, perhaps because its publisher, Mr. Arthur Frommer, is from South Florida, is quickly becoming a Florida traveler’s classic. “Frommer’s South Florida,” unlike similar publications, adds intrigue and depth to our area in a way that can’t be done by ignoring the Treasure Coast in favor of its Gold Coast counterpart. For example, in the introduction to the book, Mr. Frommer provides a detailed list of “Frommer’s Favorite South Florida Experiences.”  One of them being: “Scuba Diving [on] the Treasure Coast.” As is the case with New York, visitors to our area realize that there’s more to see than meets the eye and are, almost by default, encouraged to stay a long time. May as well, since one cannot possibly see everything in one day. As a matter of fact, a section from Chapter 4 on page 50 is titled: “South Florida in 2 Weeks.”

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a Southeast Florida publication with a mild tendency to only acknowledge the Gold Coast as being “South Florida,” the Smart Growth Partnership is a nonprofit group, founded by Gloria Katz, that addresses growth and development issues in South Florida. They recently published an article by Ms. Katz detailing the economic implications of embracing mass transit. The Smart Growth Partnership’s website is loaded with valuable resources and features a map that acknowledges all seven of Southeast Florida’s counties (Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe).

 

Although the Treasure Coast can easily stand on its own, as its own distinct state region, its historical, emigrational and geographical ties to the Gold Coast region shows that both regions are economically linked and part of a larger national commercial region: the super region of Southeast Florida. As demonstrated, in references listed above, South Florida’s true dimensions are becoming ever more clear with the help of representative agencies, such as the South Florida Regional Planning Council, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Smart Growth Partnership, Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban and Environmental Studies, and various others who share the same goals. Life in our region can only get better as these agencies and institutions continue to build and forge more effective relationships across county lines and throughout the region.

 

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