The Bones of Tallahassee

“It’s got good bones,” is a phrase most commonly used in reference to a house. In fact, I said it the first time I walked through the house in which my family and I now live. Before we had even seen the entire house, I knew it was exactly what I wanted. We purchased it, did renovations and almost four years later, we love it as much as the day we moved in. This is attributed to the fact the house had “good bones” and we saw the potential.

This same concept applies to a city – the community, topography, recreational infrastructure and amenities are the bones.

The Community

Regardless of whether you’ve been here one year or your entire life, you quickly realize that Tallahassee is a close-knit community full of people working to make it the best that it can be.

An example of this commitment in action is the Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI). This non-profit organization has a simple mission of “improving Tallahassee.” KCCI annually selects a group of community catalysts to carry out an assigned initiative that involves making Tallahassee a better place to live, work and/or own a business. Projects range from executing new streetscapes for the South Monroe/Adams St. corridors and developing plans to retain talent within the community to building a playscape at Cascades Park and adding “porch swings” around town as one part of a grander place-making initiative.

Another example of how involved the community is in bettering Tallahassee is the Junior League of Tallahassee (JLT). This group of nearly six hundred women works tirelessly to improve the lives of children and families in the community. The JLT is responsible for ensuring that more than one hundred elementary-aged children in need of essential clothes and shoes have the opportunity to go back-to-school shopping through its Kids’ Boutique, organizing a one-day boutique-style shopping experience (Operation Prom Dress) where prom dresses, shoes and accessories are provided to high school girls at no cost and advocating to the Florida Legislature on issues of importance to children and families such as human trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence, juvenile justice, foster care and education.

These are just two examples of the hundreds of local non-profit organizations all striving towards making Tallahassee a better place for people of all walks of life.

This commitment to the community does not just exist among non-profit groups. Another prime example happened recently when a local business closed its doors with no notice. This was a business that hosted children’s birthday parties. Numerous families were left without their deposit money and without a venue for parties happening within a week. This could have been a potentially devastating situation, but other local business owners stepped up and offered to accommodate those families by hosting complimentary birthday parties. This is typical of the community in Tallahassee and is demonstrated time and again no matter what the situation.

Topography

Tallahassee’s topographical beauty is undeniable. From the palm tree lined streets and canopied roads to hills upon hills, open green spaces, countless blooming azaleas in the springtime and camellias in winter, the city is absolutely picturesque.

There’s so much natural beauty around, it’s easy to take it for granted. In my professional role, I regularly host journalists from all over the country. One of the first things most comment on is the trees and greenery in our beautiful city.

There is an entire department within city-county government responsible for the planning and design of our community. This department ensures that natural resources are preserved and protected and that connectivity between places and roads makes sense. They are charged with preventing Tallahassee from becoming a victim to excessive urban sprawl. This is important and certainly contributes to the “good bones” that serve as the foundation of Florida’s capital city.

Recreational Infrastructure

This is an extension of the destination’s topography. Tallahassee has an award-winning parks system; more than six hundred miles of trails ideal for hiking, biking, paddling and horseback riding; twenty-five lakes and rivers and is located in close proximity to the coast.

Nearby attractions include St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, one of the oldest refuges in the U.S., and Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, one of the largest and deepest fresh water springs in the world.

Another staple of Tallahassee’s recreational infrastructure is the more than one-hundred acres that was once an unused portion of the county landfill and has been transformed into one of the nation’s few venues specifically designed for championship cross country running meets – Apalachee Regional Park (ARP). Since 2012, the park has hosted NCAA Regionals, the FHSAA championships, three national championships (with five more scheduled) and is the home course for FSU’s nationally ranked cross country team. Talk about impressive.

You can’t talk about Tallahassee’s recreational infrastructure without mentioning Cascades Park. This twenty-two-acre multi-use park could literally be considered the heart of the city.

Amenities

Where do I even begin? Arts and culture. History and heritage. Outdoors and nature. Science and discovery. Food and beverages.

The arts and culture scene thrives with everything from theaters and art parks to concerts and festivals. Tallahassee is home to the only reconstructed 17^th century Spanish mission in Florida (Mission San Luis), the state’s official history museum (Museum of Florida History), the only spot in Florida on the National Blues Trail (Bradfordville Blues Club), the only private residence in Florida designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright (Spring House) and the largest and most powerful magnet laboratory in the world (FSU’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, a.k.a. “MagLab”).

For a town of this size, the quality, abundance and variety of locally-owned restaurants are impressive. You can enjoy freshly shucked oysters at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant or a five-course, wine-paired meal at an award-winning establishment, and everything in-between. Fresh baked goods, fresh seafood and fresh produce are all at our finger tips. Also, don’t forget the local breweries!

And not the least of what I’ve mentioned, it’s the state capital and has a strong commitment to higher education.

I could go on and on about all the “good bones” that make up Tallahassee, but I think you get the point. Tallahassee has endless potential, and as residents, we are responsible for ensuring the city continues to grow and thrive for all.