Deer Lake State Park [update - not closing]

Based on the issues with public vs. private beaches I would say that altogether our 19 miles of beaches isn't enough. This isn't about usage it's about money and possibly politics.

If they would spend the money they are going to spend on lawyers on marketing the public beaches we already have, the issue would be moot.

The Park will be better preserved without human disruption. Grayton Beach and Topsil are beautiful in their own right and more than sufficient for people to enjoy "whats left of the dunes". I'm not being difficult, but if the State says it needs to close the Park for budgetary reasons, so be it. Our property taxes are a much bigger threat to the viability of this area than the closure of one of the parks.

You say that you are worried about property taxes, however if this park closes it decreases the overall public lands for people to use. This makes South Walton gulf frontage smaller and therefore more rare and valuable. What happens to the value of property when it becomes more scarce?

P.S. Based on the estimated population of Florida during 2006 the per person cost would be $.00003.

http://www.classbrain.com/artstate/publish/article_1230.shtml

2005 estimate of population would be $.12.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walton_County,_Florida

Go ahead dig deep, if you can't come up with it I'll be happy to throw in your share.

If they would spend the money they are going to spend on lawyers on marketing the public beaches we already have, the issue would be moot.

The BCC, as far as I understand, cannot market. Hence the TDC. I'm not 100% on that fact, but you're the politician so maybe you can shed some light on it.

Yep. But I was just given dates when the photographer would be in town which was Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday was a better day. We couldn't do it on the beach because it was too windy, but the dunes, I think, will show as a good backdrop. Deer Park is an exceptional creation of Nature. The possibilty of having it developed to save thousands of dollars a year seems a crime of thought. I'd feel ashamed to see anything go over the top of those dunes and to be honest, I'd lose faith in the area. I guess living here a long time you have seen a lot change with develoment, but for me, it would be a travesty.

I'm in Deer Lake State Park regularly and the most activity I've ever witnessed were two lovers in Speedo's holding hands. Generally, there's not a person to be seen in the park. I don't get the need to keep the place open - it'll look exactly the way it always looks ... vacant.

Seriously, a regular, and that's the most you have seen there. Wow! When I was doing the shoot, the day after going and seeing people there, there were at least 6 different couples that came in that hours time. I also saw a local who is well known who rode his bike there. That totals 13 people. Oh, and me, my female friend and the photographer. That makes 15 in an hours time.

Granted the people who came did not linger on the beach. They simply walked down the walkway passed us to the beach, enjoyed the view, then went back and left after they enjoyed there visit. I haven't read the entire thread as to reasons why, but to me, if money is that tight, just leave the damn thing in state hands and allow public access with the stipulation that you enter at your own risk. Perhaps this is not possible in today's 'legal' times. But development is out of the question and a rediculous thought.

I changed my mind. I'll bet a Wal-Mart right there would bring up its usage. Just think of the revenues to our area.

The thing about leaving it primitive is that people will argue liability issues for the state. What about the trail directly across from the entrance? I have never seen anykind of maintenance performed on it.

I spend months every year using national parks, forests, and wilderness areas. No toilets, no rangers, no lights, no trash pick-up, minimal (if any) maintenance, no signs warning me of every possible danger or trip hazard, and yet they are still there and so am I.

This is not a unique situation, we are just acting like it is. If there truly isn't money in the budget to staff the park and provide amenities, there are still tried and true ways to still keep it open to the public.

If someone is trying to make their point that the park should be closed because of a slow economy, well......think of it this way, for all the residents and visitors, it is an activity that they can enjoy at no cost, therefore being able to spend their money somewhere else, like local restaurants and shops

Then keep it open and charge enough admission so that those that actually use it, fund it. Personally, I would rather have other things, like food and clothing, instead of funding a park I have never used.

Then keep it open and charge enough admission so that those that actually use it, fund it. Personally, I would rather have other things, like food and clothing, instead of funding a park I have never used.

Ummm....I was in no way implying that admission should be charged. I think this is heading to the political forum type, but how would the government funding $6000 to a park affect you getting food and clothing?

I was just trying to say that it is a nice, free place for visitors and locals to go and enjoy. And since it is free, they can possibly spend more money at local businesses since they are not having to spend it for entertainment.

Seriously, a regular, and that's the most you have seen there. Wow! When I was doing the shoot, the day after going and seeing people there, there were at least 6 different couples that came in that hours time. I also saw a local who is well known who rode his bike there. That totals 13 people. Oh, and me, my female friend and the photographer. That makes 15 in an hours time.

Granted the people who came did not linger on the beach. They simply walked down the walkway passed us to the beach, enjoyed the view, then went back and left after they enjoyed there visit. I haven't read the entire thread as to reasons why, but to me, if money is that tight, just leave the damn thing in state hands and allow public access with the stipulation that you enter at your own risk. Perhaps this is not possible in today's 'legal' times. But development is out of the question and a rediculous thought.

I changed my mind. I'll bet a Wal-Mart right there would bring up its usage. Just think of the revenues to our area.

I think there is a development order already approved for upto 4 WalMarts within a few blocks of the Park. That little stretch of road will already be the densest commercial and residential stretch of 30A at buildout. Let's not really try and put any more commercial right there.

Then keep it open and charge enough admission so that those that actually use it, fund it. Personally, I would rather have other things, like food and clothing, instead of funding a park I have never used.

what are you waiting for? someone to put some lights out there?

I think there is a development order already approved for upto 4 WalMarts within a few blocks of the Park. That little stretch of road will already be the densest commercial and residential stretch of 30A at buildout. Let's not really try and put any more commercial right there.

You do know I was joking, right? About the Wal-Mart thing. I hope I didn't lose anyone with my attempt at sarcasm. I would have thought everything else I'd written would have made that clear. Sorry about that.

I'm in Deer Lake State Park regularly and the most activity I've ever witnessed were two lovers in Speedo's holding hands. Generally, there's not a person to be seen in the park. I don't get the need to keep the place open - it'll look exactly the way it always looks ... vacant.

..And that is why I love to so much! We have enough crowded beaches around here, nothing wrong with vacant and pristine.

Then keep it open and charge enough admission so that those that actually use it, fund it. Personally, I would rather have other things, like food and clothing, instead of funding a park I have never used.

There's a ton of crap C-R-A-P in Defuniak that I have never used nor will I, but I'm not pushing to have it closed or sold off as surplus.

Although the State can make cuts in other places to keep parks open ie. medicaid, education, public safety, flying the state jet, etc. I do not support getting rid of the property but I do have issue with local government taking it over. If those of you have a desire to keep it open volunteer your time to do so.

I am sure many of us would be happy to do that...the only problem is, the state/county government is not structured to do that; just as they could not take the private money to fund the installation of the traffic lights at the intersections; or the private money to take down/re-do the big blue signs; they are not set up to allow "civilians" to manage a state or county owned property.

You do know I was joking, right? About the Wal-Mart thing. I hope I didn't lose anyone with my attempt at sarcasm. I would have thought everything else I'd written would have made that clear. Sorry about that.

I think I know that about you....

On the commercial note though it is something not regularly considered. I'd estimate that in 10 years there will be another road connecting 98 to 30A with the termination occuring in that small corridor near Deer Lake State Park. In that Watersound West Beach to Watersound Bridges section of 30A there is hundreds of thousands of feet of commercial approved. There is already approved enough commercial in that stretch of 30A to build a Super Walmart, Publix, Target, Home Depot, and Lowes.

..And that is why I love to so much! We have enough crowded beaches around here, nothing wrong with vacant and pristine.

Right on - but why should taxpayers foot the bill for the enjoyment of so few?

There's a ton of crap C-R-A-P in Defuniak that I have never used nor will I, but I'm not pushing to have it closed or sold off as surplus.

And?

I think I know that about you....

On the commercial note though it is something not regularly considered. I'd estimate that in 10 years there will be another road connecting 98 to 30A with the termination occuring in that small corridor near Deer Lake State Park. In that Watersound West Beach to Watersound Bridges section of 30A there is hundreds of thousands of feet of commercial approved. There is already approved enough commercial in that stretch of 30A to build a Super Walmart, Publix, Target, Home Depot, and Lowes.

I don't think you're going to see any of those on 30A anytime soon. The population just isn't here to support those. Of the one that is here, Publix, there are two within very reasonable driving distance.

I don't think you're going to see any of those on 30A anytime soon. The population just isn't here to support those. Of the one that is here, Publix, there are two within very reasonable driving distance.

I agree. I think that JOE completely controls the development timeline.

If there ever is big box commercial development in the area east of Sandestin, it makes infinitely more sense to keep it on US 98 or within a couple hundred feet of 98 rather than putting it on an access road between 98 and 30-A- the road infrastructure's already there, the scale of those kinds of projects fits better with the existing 98 developments (places like Christian International Church, the Chelco palace of electricity, etc) and the legal bills would be significantly less to get approval to change zoning than they would be for something closer to the beach. And a couple parcels there are already zoned for larger commercial development like the western terminus of 30-A where Albertson's was talking about putting a store at some point.

If there ever is big box commercial development in the area east of Sandestin, it makes infinitely more sense to keep it on US 98 or within a couple hundred feet of 98 rather than putting it on an access road between 98 and 30-A- the road infrastructure's already there, the scale of those kinds of projects fits better with the existing 98 developments (places like Christian International Church, the Chelco palace of electricity, etc) and the legal bills would be significantly less to get approval to change zoning than they would be for something closer to the beach. And a couple parcels there are already zoned for larger commercial development like the western terminus of 30-A where Albertson's was talking about putting a store at some point.

I agree. There is not the present critical mass required to satisfy the hundreds of thousands of square feet approved for that presently quiet stretch of 30A between Deer Lake and Camp Creek Lake.

I'm in Deer Lake State Park regularly and the most activity I've ever witnessed were two lovers in Speedo's holding hands. Generally, there's not a person to be seen in the park. I don't get the need to keep the place open - it'll look exactly the way it always looks ... vacant.

And I supposed you would also say that just because I see no people on the beach in the winter that we should close the beach. What about the State Forest. The most people I've ever seen while walking or riding on the trails in the State Forest is zero. Does that mean we should close the State Forest to the visitors who use it?

The County Seal for Walton County has three words on it. I bet you don't have a clue as to what they are. I'm not sure who was responsible for creating them, but those three words have enough meaning that they were integrated into the Seal. Go look them up.