Peacock,Madison,and Troy to CLOSE!!!

[karstdvr]

Audubon of Florida News
Department of Environmental Protection Proposes to Close 53 State Parks
posted on January 27, 2011 in Florida's Special Places,Land Conservation

In what has become an annual exercise, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) along with other agencies, yesterday presented to the Legislature reductions they would make if ordered to reduce their budgets by 15%. In a year when the state faces a nearly $4B shortfall, this is likely to be more than just an exercise; and with the high proportion of freshman members, there is less familiarity than past years with the importance of Florida’s environmental programs.

Part of DEP’s proposal last year, which was not adopted, was to close some parks to public access to result in expense savings. This year, this proposal includes an unprecedented 53 state parks which garner the least attendance and do not have camping, despite being economic engines in some of Florida’s smallest and most rural communities.

Additionally, three parks—Egmont Key, Three Rivers and Forest Capital—are proposed to be returned to their primary owners, whether or not those owners have the capacity to manage them for conservation and public access.

Wednesday in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Committee, members seemed concerned but not willing to simply remove these cuts from the table. One suggested these lands should be sold to put them back on county tax rolls. Another suggested enlisting cash-strapped local governments to manage them. A third suggested closing them “except on weekends.”

The list of proposed park closures is below. Are these some of the places you would consider among Florida’s Special Places? Tell us why these sites are important to you, and share that with your legislators too. The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and Senate General Government Appropriations Committee will be the first to consider which cuts they will accept.

Of course, more reductions were proposed in DEP as well as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee and other important conservation programs. Be sure you are subscribed to Audubon’s Advocate e-newsletter to receive our thorough summary at the end of this and each committee week, through the State Legislative Session.

The 53 Florida State Parks
•Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, Haines City
•Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park, Stuart
•Big Shoals State Park, White Springs
•Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, Flagler Beach
•Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach
•Cedar Key State Museum State Park, Cedar Key
•Colt Creek State Park, Lakeland
•Constitution Convention Museum State Park, Port St. Joe
•Crystal River Archaeological State Park, Crystal River
•Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Bushnell
•Dagny Johsnon Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo
•Deer Lake State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
•Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, Gainesville
•Don Pedro Island State Park, Boca Granda
•Dudley Farm Historic State Park, Newberry
•Dunn’s Creek State Park, Pomona
•Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Estero
•Fort Cooper State Park, Inverness
•Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Jacksonville
•Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine
•John Gorrie Museum State Park, Apalachicola
•Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, Ellenton
•Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee
•Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park, Sebring
•Lake Talquin State Park, Tallahassee
•Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee
•Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Islamorada
•Madison Blue Spring State Park, Lee
•Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Cross Creek
•Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park, Woodville
•Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Olustee
•Orman House Historic State Park, Apalachicola
•Paynes Creek Historic State Park, Bowling Green
•Peacock Springs State Park, Luraville
•Perdido Key State Park, Pensacola
•Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, Ponce de Leon
•Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Jacksonville
•Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Sorrento
•San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, Alachua
•San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, St. Marks
•Savannas Preserve State Park, Jensen Beach
•St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, Stuart
•St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere
•Suwannee River Wilderness Trail/Nature and Heritage Tourism Center, White Springs
•Terra Ceia Preserve State Park, Palmetto
•The Barnacle Historic State Park, Coconut Grove
•Troy Spring State Park, Branford
•Wacasassa Bay Preserve State Park, Cedar Key
•Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Palm Coast
•Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Port Richey
•Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Islamorada
•Ybor City Museum State Park, Tampa
•Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park, Holt

 

[tstormdiver]

My question to those who are in charge is why, when the pressure was on, about charging divers more to dive in the parks & the fees reduced, was it not simply stated, "we need to raise the fees to create the needed revenue to keep the parks open"? I would much rather pay a little extra to have access to the parks, than to see them threatened to be shut down. I would think most others would agree with me on that. These parks are a major part of the lifeblood of that part of FL, with the tourism it brings in. To close those parks would bring economic ruin to an area where cave divers for all over the US (including myself) & the world over, come to dive these springs & caves. A lot of people have fought very hard for access to these sites & put a lot of time & effort into making them nicer for everyone. Hope to goodness, this does not come to pass.

 

[karstdvr]

In the article one of the choices would be the parks could be sold. That could really suck,because a new owner may not want cave diving. If the CDS hadn't purchased Cow,it was going to become an RV camp.

 

[tstormdiver]

Yes, that would be very bad.

 

[TSandM]

I would be willing to write a letter to someone, regarding the fact that I would be far less likely to make a trip to Florida to cave dive, if the parks with caves were closed. To whom should I send such a letter?

 

[Dive-aholic]

Lynne, join the Friends of Wakulla Diving group on FB. It's a different topic, but someone there has posted the names and addresses of several government figures, including our new governor and the senators.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

I've definitely been to 11 of the parks on that list, would be an absolute shame to see them closed as they are gems!

 

[karstdvr]

Ironically the NFSA is having a rountine meeting this Saturday 3pm at Troy,and often we have a park manager present. The park managers aren't to blame,they have helped us a lot and dimayed at what is happening. This will be an item of discussion for us,and hopefully some ideas on what we can do will be shared. We hope you can attend,whether a member or not,because closure of any of these parks will hurt us as recreational divers.

 

[karstdvr]

I would be willing to write a letter to someone, regarding the fact that I would be far less likely to make a trip to Florida to cave dive, if the parks with caves were closed. To whom should I send such a letter?

I will have a better idea today and after we (the NFSA) meets this Saturday.

The NFSA has grown into a fairly large support organization,and through our members we draw some attention. We appreciate the support we get,and will work hard on this issue. North Florida Springs Alliance

 

[karstdvr]

Okay...I have gotten some information back. This list is what could possibly happen,but not a done deal. If the legislature pulls the $$$,then these parks will be targeted. YES,there is something we can do to keep these parks off the radar screen. I will have a clearer picture after the NFSA meeting Saturday because we will have some more information,and people in attendence that can answer questions. Your support is appreciated,and look at North Florida Springs Alliance