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/parks_12771___article.html/state_closed.html
Replies
263
Beach Fanatic
I assume ( you all know what that means ) that the meeting called for Wed. at SW Fire House to discuss volunteer program for Deer Lake is off?
Beach Lover
This is the best news any government entity has issued in 2009!
Beach Fanatic
Yea!!! The best news ever--that is my beach!
SWGB
Yea!!! The best news ever--that is our beach!
Fixed it for you. ;-)
SoWal Guide
outstanding. thanks for the good news Lori.
Beach Lover
Fantastic!! I love that walkover.
Beach Fanatic
I assume ( you all know what that means ) that the meeting called for Wed. at SW Fire House to discuss volunteer program for Deer Lake is off?
I'd hope it still went forward. A lot of parks have 'Friends of...' programs and those volunteers can really do a lot of work for the park that wouldn't get done by the limited number of paid employees.
Beach Fanatic
Deer Lake State Park viewing deck looking east to WaterSound
Thank Goodness! One of the best natural parks anywhere. Deer Lake State Park in SoWal is one of the jewels of Northwest Florida and the Emerald Coast. My pic.
Thank Goodness! One of the best natural parks anywhere. Deer Lake State Park in SoWal is one of the jewels of Northwest Florida and the Emerald Coast. My pic.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
Thanks to all who wrote to the Governor, the Legislators, the DEP, and the Commissioners and the TDC...
I believe our letters/emails/phone calls made a difference.
and a thanks also to Sonny Mares at the TDC who worked with the DEP folks on this.
I just sent thank you emails to all the people I had contacted before...I bet they would like to hear from everyone who is happy about this decision
I believe our letters/emails/phone calls made a difference.
and a thanks also to Sonny Mares at the TDC who worked with the DEP folks on this.
I just sent thank you emails to all the people I had contacted before...I bet they would like to hear from everyone who is happy about this decision
Edited
kt loo
OH HAPPY DAY!!!
That's truly just about the best news I could imagine hearing. Thank you, sea angels, wherever you are!!!
Beach Lover
Alert: Deer Lake status still not finalized: meeting today
NOTICE: Deer Lake meeting scheduled for today is still on.
Although the governor has said he wants the park to stay open the legislature still has to vote.
Hope to see you at the meeting
Volunteer program at Deer Lake State Park to be discussed
A meeting to discuss starting a volunteer program at Deer Lake State Park will be held March 18, 5-5:45 p.m., at the South Walton Fire Department Community Room (near Publix on Hwy. 395)...
Forestry Department representatives will be at the meeting to discuss how volunteers can support the current and future needs at Deer Lake State Park.
For additional information,
please contact Beverly Kraska at 850-231-3305 or bkraska@gmail. com
NOTICE: Deer Lake meeting scheduled for today is still on.
Although the governor has said he wants the park to stay open the legislature still has to vote.
Hope to see you at the meeting
Beach Lover
Alert: Fate of Deer Lake not finalized
NOTICE: Deer Lake meeting scheduled for today is still on.
Although the governor has said he wants the park to stay open the legislature still has to vote.
A meeting to discuss Deer Lake State Park will be held March 18, 5-5:45 p.m., at the South Walton Fire Department Community Room (near Publix on Hwy. 395)...
Forestry Department representatives will be at the meeting to discuss how volunteers can support the current and future needs at Deer Lake State Park.
For additional information,
please contact Beverly Kraska at 850-231-3305 or bkraska@gmail.com
Hope to see you at the meeting
NOTICE: Deer Lake meeting scheduled for today is still on.
Although the governor has said he wants the park to stay open the legislature still has to vote.
A meeting to discuss Deer Lake State Park will be held March 18, 5-5:45 p.m., at the South Walton Fire Department Community Room (near Publix on Hwy. 395)...
Forestry Department representatives will be at the meeting to discuss how volunteers can support the current and future needs at Deer Lake State Park.
For additional information,
please contact Beverly Kraska at 850-231-3305 or bkraska@gmail.com
Hope to see you at the meeting
Admin
Deer Lake supporters rally, consider forming nonprofit | state, lake, deer - News - Northwest Florida Daily News
SANTA ROSA BEACH - Talk about the possible closure of Deer Lake State Park as part of the state's budget-cutting efforts has been a catalyst for a community volunteer effort.
About 45 people attended a meeting last week led by the staff from the state Division of Parks and Recreation.
Those who attended also talked about possibly forming a nonprofit organization such as the Friends of Grayton Beach that would allow for fund raising.
Dale Schnedler, park manager for both Grayton Beach and Deer Lake state parks, said they talked about the history of Deer Lake and the volunteer opportunities available.
Deer Lake is among more than a dozen state parks that could be closed temporarily starting July 1 to help ease the state's financial crunch.
But "to the best of our knowledge, Deer Lake will be there tomorrow, next week and the week after that," Schnedler said. "We have no direction that the park's closing, and if it does, we have no direction about what we're going to do ... . We're just moving forward optimistically."
According to state figures, 5,370 people visited Deer Lake in fiscal 2007-08, and its operating budget was $45,479. Those figures were disputed at a County Commission meeting last month, and the commissioners agreed to consider taking over management of the park.
Beverly Kraska, who organized Wednesday's meeting, said the volunteer program "really has nothing to do with keeping the park open or closed" and that the state's announcement "raised everyone's level of awareness and involvement."
If a volunteer program is started, residents would help with tasks such as clearing out invasive species, maintaining and developing trails, and counting various species of plants and wildlife.
Talks at Wednesday's meeting also included the possibility of forming a CSO, or Citizen Support Organization, that would allow members to raise money.
According to the state parks Web site, Welcome to the Official Florida Online Parks Guide, more than 80 CSOs have been formed in Florida to support parks. They include ones at Henderson Beach, Topsail, Eden Gardens and Helen McCall, Schnedler said.
Kraska said a smaller group will meet later to discuss forming a chapter and writing bylaws.
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