Deer Lake State Park [update - not closing]

**SHELLY** · 11-14-2008, 11:11 PM

Two local state parks on closure list

Deer Lake and Yellow River March Preserve would close indefinitely if Gov. Crist gives his OK

SANTA ROSA BEACH -Deer Lake State Park is among more than a dozen state parks that might be closed indefinitely next year because of Florida's financial crunch.

The possible closure of Deer Lake - named after one of the rare coastal dune lakes along the 26-mile Walton County coastline - and 18 other state parks comes after Gov. Charlie Crist directed all state agencies to cut 10 percent from their proposed 2009-10 budgets, said Jessica Kemper, public information officer for the Florida Parks Service.

Another park on the potential closure list is Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park on County Road 191 in Santa Rosa County.

Kemper said Crist must approve the proposed cuts. If he does, the parks likely would close in July.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/par...te_closed.html

DD · 11-14-2008, 11:14 PM

**GoodWitch58** · 11-14-2008, 11:21 PM

oh, no. Deer Lake is one of the most special places....

**SWGB** · 11-14-2008, 11:27 PM

I'll bet Joe would love to see that park close. Get ready for WaterSound In-between Beach.

**SWGB** · 11-15-2008, 12:25 AM

Looks like a done deal.

http://64.234.218.210/cgi-bin/walton...16000-001-0020

**AAbsolute** · 11-15-2008, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

Looks like a done deal.

http://64.234.218.210/cgi-bin/walton...16000-001-0020

It doesn't look like the Metes and Bounds matches the site map. The area is off by about 99% as well.

http://64.234.218.210/cgi-bin/walton...16000-001-0020

**2bohemians** · 11-15-2008, 07:17 AM

This is horrible news to wake up to!

What can we do to save this park? It scares us to think what might happen next! Deer Lake has always been and still is one of our most favorite spots along the beach.

**GoodWitch58** · 11-15-2008, 07:36 AM

...WaterSound West ?

Let's save the park!

**2bohemians** · 11-15-2008, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

...WaterSound West ?

Let's save the park!

We're in!

**TooFarTampa** · 11-15-2008, 07:44 AM

According to the AP, it would be a temporary budget trimming move, hence the likelihood of a July closure (when FY begins). That would be right before July 4 -- not good for the area.

The parks would have a caretaker, even while not open for business.

So, no need to truly panic, but since Deer Lake is one of the most gorgeous spots in SoWal, and times will likely be tough for families again next year, it might be a bad idea to close it. If we want to bring people to SoWal, we need to have low-cost or free recreational things to offer. Like Deer Lake Park.

Let's hope the TDC is on this. Meanwhile, we should all send our emails!

http://news-press.com/article/200811.../81114011/1075

**DuneLaker** · 11-15-2008, 08:21 AM

Deer Lake needs to stay open. How can cost be reduced? How much money will the school district lose if this happens? Doesn't each state park give around 15% of collected fees to county each state park is located?

**AAbsolute** · 11-15-2008, 08:34 AM

Sounds an awful lot like a publicity stunt. The house I just sold was 1 foot from the park and overlooking the beach walkover. They just paved an area for handicap access 2 weeks ago.

It's Prominence's beach access. There is more to this story than meets the eye. Don't get suckered into using a bunch of energy opposing this.

**DuneLaker** · 11-15-2008, 08:43 AM

I wonder what "closed" means. Obviously, you'd still be able to walk there and plop your towel down for a day at the beach. Maybe walkover closed? Parking off 30A? Could you still hike or bike in?

**DuneLaker** · 11-15-2008, 08:45 AM

There is a county park just a little to the west that provides fairly close public access to the beach area of Deer Lake. People need to remember it is a State Park and nesting area so No Pets Are Allowed.

**GoodWitch58** · 11-15-2008, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

Sounds an awful lot like a publicity stunt. The house I just sold was 1 foot from the park and overlooking the beach walkover. They just paved an area for handicap access 2 weeks ago.

It's Prominence's beach access. There is more to this story than meets the eye. Don't get suckered into using a bunch of energy opposing this.

Can you clarify what you mean?

It is my understanding that this park is on a statewide list of parks/rec. areas that are being closed due to budget cuts...
not sure how much money the state will save if the caretaker is going to continue; there is not much to do at Deer Lake...since it is a minimal facility park.
It is one of the few places the public can see dunes sorta like they used to be...

**Miss Critter** · 11-15-2008, 09:03 AM

If the park closes, what does that mean for ownership of the land? Would it still be protected somehow against development? Could it be added to state forest land, or something similar?

**Bob Wells** · 11-15-2008, 09:18 AM

Well the State already owns it, maybe instead of the County buying more property ( Natural Bridge) and taking it off the property rolls, they could hire someone to oversee/ run Deer Lake. Maybe when the Florida House Republicans show up next week, we could get some answers from them. Wait, you would be considered lobbiest and you weren't invited. Lord knows we don't want taxes to maintain what we have, unless its something we care about.

**Creeklover** · 11-15-2008, 09:38 AM

I understand this is a small park? I have only been there once and there was very little there a bathrooma nd boardwalk if i remember. Maybe we could talk to the park service and see if the Grayton Beach park people could send some one down there twice a day to open the park and then close it and move the land under the Point Washington forest rangers to manage the maintance of the area. This would save money on the care taker there and still being paid to live there when the park would be closed. Or maybe the TDC could contract the park fromthe state for the use and maintance of it??

**Beach Runner** · 11-15-2008, 09:53 AM

We love to ride our bikes to Deer Lake Park, our favorite place on the beach. How much maintenance does it need, considering that the walkover was built in 2002 (if my memory serves me correctly) and the stairway down to the beach was rebuilt after the 2005 hurricanes?

If the group decides to fight its closure, we're in!

My 2nd favorite photo of the beach, taken by hubby at Deer Lake (favorite is one of daughter, hubby, and me):

Sand or snow?

**AAbsolute** · 11-15-2008, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

Can you clarify what you mean?

It is my understanding that this park is on a statewide list of parks/rec. areas that are being closed due to budget cuts...
not sure how much money the state will save if the caretaker is going to continue; there is not much to do at Deer Lake...since it is a minimal facility park.
It is one of the few places the public can see dunes sorta like they used to be...

That park has one small bathroom which is run by a solar panel on the roof. It has a gravel screenings entry road. There are no services of anykind there. How does it make sense that the State and Walton County both have speant millions of tax dollars buying land for public beach access only to prohibit the public from using it? A small group of volunteers, maybe Watersound Beach HOA Security or another Developer could open and close the gate. A private Port-a-let company would love to have the oportunity to have a service agreement on that bathroom for $75.00 per month.

I can't find any logic in the announcement. What's more logical is that the Governor wants to create a reaction and induce some grassroots efforts or maybe a big developer pulled some strings to get another developers only beach access closed. How much less do you think the value of Tommy Henry's Prominence Development is worth wholesale with no beach access? What other developer, aside from JOE, would have any interest at all in Prominence with the only hope of beach access closed?

In the words of Santiago "Who cares if AAbsolute thinks it's shady, it's called business"

**Beach Runner** · 11-15-2008, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Creeklover

I understand this is a small park? I have only been there once and there was very little there a bathrooma nd boardwalk if i remember. Maybe we could talk to the park service and see if the Grayton Beach park people could send some one down there twice a day to open the park and then close it and move the land under the Point Washington forest rangers to manage the maintance of the area. This would save money on the care taker there and still being paid to live there when the park would be closed. Or maybe the TDC could contract the park fromthe state for the use and maintance of it??

The boardwalk is beautiful. You can ride your bike all the way to the beach. Unfortunately, daughter wiped out on one of the curves on the walkover. We can still see where she hit the rail. OOPS!

**John** · 11-15-2008, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

The boardwalk is beautiful. You can ride your bike all the way to the beach. Unfortunately, daughter wiped out on one of the curves on the walkover. We can still see where she it the rail. OOPS!

I also love this park. Be careful publicly advocating riding all the way to the beach. To provide for all sorts of visitors, pedestrians, wheelchairs, etc., there is a rule agaisnt riding one's bike on the boardwalk.

**Beach Runner** · 11-15-2008, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by John

I also love this park. Be careful publicly advocating riding all the way to the beach. To provide for all sorts of visitors, pedestrians, wheelchairs, etc., there is a rule agaisnt riding one's bike on the boardwalk.

Really? I have not noticed a sign. But thanks for the info.

**beachmouse** · 11-15-2008, 11:21 PM

If the state won't maintain the park as such, they should pass it back to Walton County if the county will guarantee it will be kept as a public beach area. They did that when they decided they didn't want to keep rebuilding Navarre Beach SP every time it got whupped by a hurricane and passed responsibility for it back to Santa Rosa County.

**DuneLaker** · 11-16-2008, 08:37 AM

The county could enhance this state park, imo, by adding some parking and bathrooms at the public beach just to the west it already owns. It is a fairly wide public beach area with no public restroom facilities anywhere nearby. Then, if the public wanted to walk down the beach and enjoy the open, natural area of Deer Lake beach, they could. Would be a great place for handicap access, parking and boat launch, too. For those too old to walk to the beach anymore, they could enjoy the sunset from their car.

**Beach Runner** · 11-16-2008, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

The county could enhance this state park, imo, by adding some parking and bathrooms at the public beach just to the west it already owns. It is a fairly wide public beach area with no public restroom facilities anywhere nearby. Then, if the public wanted to walk down the beach and enjoy the open, natural area of Deer Lake beach, they could. Would be a great place for handicap access, parking and boat launch, too. For those too old to walk to the beach anymore, they could enjoy the sunset from their car.

My photo is taken from before the 2005 hurricane season. They didn't rebuild the handicapped access.

**AAbsolute** · 11-16-2008, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

The county could enhance this state park, imo, by adding some parking and bathrooms at the public beach just to the west it already owns. It is a fairly wide public beach area with no public restroom facilities anywhere nearby. Then, if the public wanted to walk down the beach and enjoy the open, natural area of Deer Lake beach, they could. Would be a great place for handicap access, parking and boat launch, too. For those too old to walk to the beach anymore, they could enjoy the sunset from their car.

Where is the road access to the area you're talking about? I know Deer Lake Park entrance between Watersound Beach and Watersound West Beach. Is it West of West Beach back down Lakewood?

**tsutcli** · 11-16-2008, 01:05 PM

Another nail in the coffin of Promenance as their beach access was to have been through Deer Lake Park via a Jittney (sp?) service as I understood it.

**AAbsolute** · 11-16-2008, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by tsutcli

Another nail in the coffin of Promenance as their beach access was to have been through Deer Lake Park via a Jittney (sp?) service as I understood it.

I remember talking to JOE planning and development execs in 2001 who were certain that the Prominence Piece would wind up being sold to them. It looks to me like JOE is pulling strings to finalize the winding down of T. Henry's and J. Lowder's plans for Prominence.

**DuneLaker** · 11-16-2008, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

Where is the road access to the area you're talking about? I know Deer Lake Park entrance between Watersound Beach and Watersound West Beach. Is it West of West Beach back down Lakewood?

Yes. You turn off 30A onto Lakewood. Continue straight on Lakewood after the stopsign. Then you take a right after the curve toward the beach. That entire open beach area is a county park. Lots of possibilities, but still keep it toned down. There is only public parking along the right of way of the road now. I do believe the large area to the north of the road there is also part of the county park. It could handle a bathroom and a little parking.

**DuneLaker** · 11-16-2008, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

My photo is taken from before the 2005 hurricane season. They didn't rebuild the handicapped access.

Correct. I was talking about the county park area being a good place for a few handicap parking spots. It is pretty flat there. A handicap buggy or other systems might work quite well with the proper planning.

**SWGB** · 11-16-2008, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

Yes. You turn off 30A onto Lakewood. Continue straight on Lakewood after the stopsign. Then you take a right after the curve toward the beach. That entire open beach area is a county park. Lots of possibilities, but still keep it toned down. There is only public parking along the right of way of the road now. I do believe the large area to the north of the road there is also part of the county park. It could handle a bathroom and a little parking.

The land to the North of the road is actually owned by Beach Front Townhomes Association. There's actually a massive chunk of land a developer could get their hands on if they knew what they were doing.

**AAbsolute** · 11-17-2008, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

Yes. You turn off 30A onto Lakewood. Continue straight on Lakewood after the stopsign. Then you take a right after the curve toward the beach. That entire open beach area is a county park. Lots of possibilities, but still keep it toned down. There is only public parking along the right of way of the road now. I do believe the large area to the north of the road there is also part of the county park. It could handle a bathroom and a little parking.

I think I know the area you are talking about. Isn't there some private residential between that park and Deer Lake Park?

**SWGB** · 11-17-2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

I think I know the area you are talking about. Isn't there some private residential between that park and Deer Lake Park?

Yes, Walton Dunes Townhomes and some private residences.

**scooterbug44** · 11-17-2008, 12:39 PM

Seems pretty ridiculous to close the park, even though a full time caretaker will be there.

The Sheriff patrols the beaches and provides emergency services, the TDC picks up trash, and we can't afford to keep it open?

**Natural Clean** · 11-17-2008, 02:30 PM

I love that park!
I took this photo there last summer. I hope to take many more.

**DuneLaker** · 11-17-2008, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

The land to the North of the road is actually owned by Beach Front Townhomes Association. There's actually a massive chunk of land a developer could get their hands on if they knew what they were doing.

Thanks for clarification. Would be interested in seeing what boundaries actually are. Like most roads around there, it probably isn't exactly in the right place.

**DuneLaker** · 11-17-2008, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

I think I know the area you are talking about. Isn't there some private residential between that park and Deer Lake Park?

Yes, but that doesn't stop a number of people who now park along the road at the county park and then walk a very short distance down to the state park beach. They could just use the county park, but some choose to walk the little distance to enjoy the quieter atmosphere of Deer Lake State Park beach. I often walk down from Eastern Lake to Deer Lake myself - about a 20 minute walk. A number of visitors don't walk that far, they just set up as close to an access, etc. as they can.

**AAbsolute** · 11-17-2008, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

Yes, but that doesn't stop a number of people who now park along the road at the county park and then walk a very short distance down to the state park beach. They could just use the county park, but some choose to walk the little distance to enjoy the quieter atmosphere of Deer Lake State Park beach. I often walk down from Eastern Lake to Deer Lake myself - about a 20 minute walk. A number of visitors don't walk that far, they just set up as close to an access, etc. as they can.

The very first lot I cotracted to purchase in Sowal was down there and to the left in a little cul-de-sac overlooking that park. Bill Smith set Dr. Rhodes and I up with that lot for 165,000, 1 off the gulf. I wish I had it now.

**AAbsolute** · 11-17-2008, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

Seems pretty ridiculous to close the park, even though a full time caretaker will be there.

The Sheriff patrols the beaches and provides emergency services, the TDC picks up trash, and we can't afford to keep it open?

There must be more going on with this than meets the public eye. You have to pull some pretty big strings to get a gulf front State Park closed.

**beachmouse** · 11-17-2008, 07:40 PM

A bunch of people are playing chicken right now with the state budget, which is apparently even worse off than anyone thought during the last special session.

This is he downside of relying on sales tax so much in place of property taxes for a state/local budget- property taxes are more sticky downward, and you can at least more or less plan reliably on incoming revenues in that area for the fiscal year.

**TreeFrog** · 11-17-2008, 09:28 PM

Does anybody know if TDC has weighed in on this yet?

**2bohemians** · 11-17-2008, 10:09 PM

If our memory serves us correctly, you don't have to pay at that park -- why is this? We would be more than happy to contribute $$ every time we visit to help keep the park open.

**2bohemians** · 11-17-2008, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Natural Clean

I love that park!
I took this photo there last summer. I hope to take many more.

Nice photo

thanks for sharing!

**Mark Partington** · 11-17-2008, 11:01 PM

The nice part about this park is the fact it's not rife with amenities. It used to take some real nature lovin....seriously; to walk thru the roped off area before the access...like standing on the sun. I understand the need for public access; hence the beach walk over...till the bikes started shooting down there. Also much easier to 'roller' mounds of amenities out there...which has its downside. Lord...Bobby J always reminds me to wait 24 hrs before hitting the send button; but really: what's up? Its getting pretty transparent.

Lakewood...that little 3 max car"nook" is public, but I dont get the 'development' idea there; build parking ....where? Gramma's garden?
More starbucks.

This was one of the last places we recognized.
Posiden will be taking all this back soon.......

**SWGB** · 11-18-2008, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

Yes, but that doesn't stop a number of people who now park along the road at the county park and then walk a very short distance down to the state park beach. They could just use the county park, but some choose to walk the little distance to enjoy the quieter atmosphere of Deer Lake State Park beach. I often walk down from Eastern Lake to Deer Lake myself - about a 20 minute walk. A number of visitors don't walk that far, they just set up as close to an access, etc. as they can.

Sorry I should have clarified further that this park does already have parking. It is the parking lot North East at the corner.

Originally Posted by 2bohemians

If our memory serves us correctly, you don't have to pay at that park -- why is this? We would be more than happy to contribute $$ every time we visit to help keep the park open.

Little upkeep, no full bathrooms. It's what the park service refers to as a "primitive" park. The more facilities the more rangers. The ranger over Deer Lake is also in charge of the surrounding forest. Where as the Grayton Ranger is only responsible for the Park and the Cabins.

**DuneLaker** · 11-18-2008, 10:11 PM

Lakewood...that little 3 max car"nook" is public, but I dont get the 'development' idea there; build parking ....where? Gramma's garden?
More starbucks.

I think we might be talking about two different places. There is a very small public park at the stop sign on Lakewood/Lakeview Dr. for Eastern Lake. Nothing much needs to be done there. It is nice little park like it is. There is another county park ON THE BEACH about 1/2 mile from that park. It is between two condos and is a fairly nice broad beach area. While I'd prefer on one hand to not have any more development on the beach, with the larger number of people on the beach not staying at an adjacent condo, some more bathrooms are really going to be necessary. The right of way along the road that already exists might deserve a look at providing more public parking. A bathroom at the Eastern Lake outfall would also be helpful to this general area. But, back to Deer Lake State Park. We sholuld just leave this alone as much as possible and keep it open to the public. Personally, I didn't like the large somewhat overdone walkover. But, it is an awesome place to walk through and sit on one of the benches to view the dunes like all used to be.

I agree with earlier post by SB that with so much being taken care of by other entities like Walton County Sheriff and TDC, just what budget cuts are they talking about that would close the park?

**Santiago** · 11-19-2008, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

That park has one small bathroom which is run by a solar panel on the roof. It has a gravel screenings entry road. There are no services of anykind there. How does it make sense that the State and Walton County both have speant millions of tax dollars buying land for public beach access only to prohibit the public from using it? A small group of volunteers, maybe Watersound Beach HOA Security or another Developer could open and close the gate. A private Port-a-let company would love to have the oportunity to have a service agreement on that bathroom for $75.00 per month.

I can't find any logic in the announcement. What's more logical is that the Governor wants to create a reaction and induce some grassroots efforts or maybe a big developer pulled some strings to get another developers only beach access closed. How much less do you think the value of Tommy Henry's Prominence Development is worth wholesale with no beach access? What other developer, aside from JOE, would have any interest at all in Prominence with the only hope of beach access closed?

In the words of Santiago "Who cares if AAbsolute thinks it's shady, it's called business"

Hey, don't drag me into this. I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm with you, I think it's much ado about nothing.

**AAbsolute** · 11-19-2008, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Santiago

Hey, don't drag me into this. I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm with you, I think it's much ado about nothing.

Your quote from days gone by, "it's called business", rings in my ears often when it comes to a party exercising leverage over another in the name of business. You are in good company, Larry Davis from Rosemary used that line on me in 2000 in a real estate dispute and I saw Al Pacino use a variant in Oceans 13 too.

**AAbsolute** · 11-19-2008, 08:58 AM

Has anyone else out here noticed that the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board is influenced by St. Joe through Mary Rosenheim? At about the same time of her installation to the Board, The St. Joe Company purchased a controlling interest in Wild Heron and its frontage on Lake Powell. It has been rumored for some time that Lake Powell is under consideration for a more permanent opening to the Gulf through a gulf/lake pass. Again, coincidentally, JOE purchased the Bay Point Marina in an effort to have a more complete series of points of conection to the waterways of North West Florida.

Trivia questions: Does the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board have the authority to open connections to the gulf? Who else has the same permission? How many JOE communities front on Coastal Dune Lakes? How many CDL's are there in the world? Who has more present influence over openings of CDL's to the Gulf than JOE? Is Deer Lake State Park the planned access to the Gulf for any of JOE's competitors?