State may double park campgrounds
Anastasia State Park at St. Augustine’s south beach is an example that will no doubt be considered when Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council holds their 9:00 a.m. meeting and public hearing on Friday morning.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, has asked for an expedited process for amending land management plans to facilitate the development of new public camping facilities in state parks.
The move, if approved, could lead to doubling the number of parks that allow campgrounds for tents, campers and recreational vehicles.
Although Anastasia State Park concessions their camp store and a kayak rental location to private vendors, the park, including camping, are currently operated by the State.
Under an announced plan, the fifty-six proposed campground locations, would be designed, built and operated by private entities, however, Department of Environmental Protection says that it will retain “full control” over planning, design, construction and operation of the new campgrounds to ensure consistency with the “mission and quality of the park system”.
Anastasia State Park manager, Paul Crawford, said that beachcombing, swimming, picnicking, windsurfing, hiking, wildlife viewing and boating are all part of the experience at the park — as well as camping. Currently, only fifty-three state parks offer campground facilities and Anastasia has been a long time success story for the Division of Recreation and Parks.
Upgrades, that the department will argue create jobs and economic growth, could include construction impervious paved roads, bathhouses or restrooms, playgrounds, as well as infrastructure including water and electricity; which has some environmental groups asking questions.
According to published reports, Audubon of Florida has concerns about maintaining the balance between park development and protection of natural resources — but it supports ways to get more people to go to state parks.
Eric Draper, the group’s executive director, has been quoted saying, “The park system in Florida is well known because it balances human use with protection of natural habitats.”
Audubon of Florida wants people to enjoy “natural Florida” and won’t want to see the park’s commercial enterprises take precedence over protected wildlife habitats such as the burrows and tall grass that are home to the endangered Anastasia Island Beach Mouse.
After a public outcry against the idea during the last legislative session, Republican Senator John Thrasher of St. Augustine, withdrew SB 1846 that would have created the Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail — with new golf courses at five state parks.
If you plan to attend the meeting Friday, June 10, 2011, it will be held at the Department of Environmental Protection Conference Room “A” in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building located at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard in Tallahassee.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by Anastasia State Park
Category: Government
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Gov. Rick Scott and the Department of Environmental Protection on Friday dropped a proposal to build a campground at Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County.
And Scott said much more review and discussion will be held before any moving ahead with plans to put campgrounds at other state parks. DEP was considering putting campgrounds at four state parks that would include spaces for recreational vehicles, pop-up campers and tents.
Just a week ago Scott defended the idea of opening up additional Florida parks to campgrounds as a way to make parks “friendly” to citizens.
But the Honeymoon Island proposal came under fierce criticism, including from several Republican legislators. A hearing held in Dunedin this past week attracted hundreds of people and Pinellas County legislators said they planned to hold a delegation meeting next week to discuss the plan further.
Scott said the overwhelming public opposition led to the decision to drop the proposal for Honeymoon Island.
“After seeing the public’s reaction, it is clear that this is not the right time to expand camping at Honeymoon Island State Park,” Scott said in a statement. “These natural treasures belong to all the tax-paying citizens of this state and it would be unfair to proceed with a plan that so many Floridians are so adamantly opposed to.”
Sen. Mike Fasano, one of those opposing the Honeymoon Island proposal, called Scott’s decision a “win for the little guy and gal.”
The plan for Honeymoon Island State Park called for placing 45 campsites on 17.5 acres east of the southern beach parking lot. DEP had also drawn up proposals to build campgrounds at De Leon Springs in Volusia County, Wakulla Springs in Wakulla County and Fanning Springs State Park in Levy County.
Scott said in his statement that he has instructed DEP and the Florida Park Service to meet with local communities, state park support organizations and others before formally proposing the addition of any amenities or services at any state parks.
In June, the state Acquisition and Restoration Council voted 7-2 to grant DEP’s request for a streamlined approval process for new campgrounds. But even at the time some people raised questions about how fast DEP was moving ahead with the proposal.