Deer Lake State Park [update - not closing]

The whole talk of State owned parks reminds me of something from when I was younger. There was a private landowner in NJ who had created a retreat. At some point, for some political reason, the State took the land through eminent domain. The State needed the land for a public park. The State opened a great public golf course. Later, when they realized they could not effectively run all the course operations they joint ventured with local businesses. All you needed to know was the name and number of my Senator and some contacts within NJ DEP and you were pitching your plan to privatize.

Politics is a business. The more liberal, the more self refuting.

On an issue like this, if you already have an unreturned call into him, I would suggest calling again. Maybe we should all call him?

Sonny has been out of town; he returned my email today. He will be checking with the state officials and will get back to me. He said he would ask them for detailed information and what their plan is...

The whole talk of State owned parks reminds me of something from when I was younger. There was a private landowner in NJ who had created a retreat. At some point, for some political reason, the State took the land through eminent domain. The State needed the land for a public park. The State opened a great public golf course. Later, when they realized they could not effectively run all the course operations they joint ventured with local businesses. All you needed to know was the name and number of my Senator and some contacts within NJ DEP and you were pitching your plan to privatize.

Politics is a business. The more liberal, the more self refuting.

A.) You're referencing New Jersey.
B.) You're talking about a public golf course. That's a far cry from a state park on a rare coastal dune lake.

In fact as far as I know the closure of Deer Lake State park is actually effectively closing 25% of the parks in the United States that have coastal dune lakes.

Since it'll come up the only other ones with/or on coastal dune lakes would be Tops'l State park, Grayton Beach state park, and Camp Helen state park.

A.) You're referencing New Jersey.
B.) You're talking about a public golf course. That's a far cry from a state park on a rare coastal dune lake.

In fact as far as I know the closure of Deer Lake State park is actually effectively closing 25% of the parks in the United States that have coastal dune lakes.

Since it'll come up the only other ones with/or on coastal dune lakes would be Tops'l State park, Grayton Beach state park, and Camp Helen state park.

There's something contained in what I said above that you may not see the first time you read it. ;-)

Okay, I understand what your saying, but again it isn't a golf course. It might require 15 minutes of janitorial service per day and the occasional coat of paint or as I noticed the other day a new ramp to the bathroom. However it's no where near the maintenance of a golf course.

Also not sure if anyone has noticed this sign just inside the entrance.



I think this designation alone is reason to keep the park open.

Can someone explain to me how a park that not only won an award but is the first to repeatedly win is on the chopping block?

the decision is probably being made in Tallahassee by someone who has no idea where the park is...and the people who know about the awards do not talk to the people in the bean counting department...

It would be a travesty, and ultimately a irrepairable tragedy, to see Deer Lake and/or Topsail fall once again into the greedy grasp of a developer.

Hear hear!! Why do we have to try to fix something that isn't broken? And, AAbs, why are you so anxious to turn this over to private hands?

SWCC DLSP clasing reply

I wrote the following to SWCC (South Walton Community Council) when I got an email about the DLSP closing. It had a lot of info. Should I include it here?

To SWCC. Thanks so much for all this info. I had no idea and it is my favorite and most-used park. Reading this I had a bunch of questions. I'm assuming I need to write a letter to get answers. Wondering if they would remove or block the aluminum stairs and ramp. If they left that open I could get in from the beach side. I wonder how they would close the part north of 30A and south of 98?

I find the expenses weird. Gas, electric, and phone? Park is closed at night. No lights. Portapotty, now wouldn't that cost? Garbage removal cost? And how about the ranger? He gets to keep living on property in the park as a full-time caretaker? Maybe he could pay some rent? Maybe he does already, I don't know. OK, I suppose his expenses are part of Grayton's budget. But it could be that the gas, electric and phone are the ranger's utilities.

Pay $2 or $3 to use? For a daily two-mile walk? Yes, but I talked to a ranger (14-year veteran of park service) at Camp Helen. He said that any money generated by a park goes to Tallahassee and is not given to the park. So he didn't think fees would be used to support DLSP. He said the budget sounds concocted. I can't remember why except that he thought things weren't divided up like that.

Look at the park closing this way: WaterSound would now have a private park. WaterSound people live contiguously east and west of the part of the park south of 30A. Also they use the nature trails north of 30A. It would be similar to 4-mile village essentially getting Coffeen for themselves.

I will look at the SWCC site to see if you've got the members forum working.

Also, did you hear that Martin Duffy (Nancy James partner) died December 6. So sad.

Hear hear!! Why do we have to try to fix something that isn't broken? And, AAbs, why are you so anxious to turn this over to private hands?

The law and I both abhor forfeiture. What I might be anxious about is letting an opportunity for the property to be sold off, Government debt to be reduced and possibly remain in the hands of a true preservation party all be missed.

Hear hear!! Why do we have to try to fix something that isn't broken? And, AAbs, why are you so anxious to turn this over to private hands?

Remember this as well....

http://64.234.218.210/cgi-bin/walton_display.cgi?KEY=20-3S-18-16000-001-0020

I heard the little South Walton Telephone Book's cover was going to be a painting of Deer Lake Park as a tribute this year.

Busy thread....

it's a perspective thing....

This Is WRONG. I think everybody needs to organize, mobilize and make sure this doesn't happen. So far, the evidence to close this park or any park anywhere... is Zero. I know stjoe and friends are powerful. But not THAT powerful. Pursuing the closure of this park would bring to light, nationally, any other issues StJoe might be involved in. This should receive media attention. On a national level.

And some good old citizen journalism. blogs blogs blogs.

This Is WRONG. I think everybody needs to organize, mobilize and make sure this doesn't happen. So far, the evidence to close this park or any park anywhere... is Zero. I know stjoe and friends are powerful. But not THAT powerful. Pursuing the closure of this park would bring to light, nationally, any other issues StJoe might be involved in. This should receive media attention. On a national level.

And some good old citizen journalism. blogs blogs blogs.

Did you seriously use the term old and blog in relation to each other? :funn:

This Is WRONG. I think everybody needs to organize, mobilize and make sure this doesn't happen. So far, the evidence to close this park or any park anywhere... is Zero. I know stjoe and friends are powerful. But not THAT powerful. Pursuing the closure of this park would bring to light, nationally, any other issues StJoe might be involved in. This should receive media attention. On a national level.

And some good old citizen journalism. blogs blogs blogs.

Not so fast. The last two spec homes I built butted up to the East and West borders of the Park respectively. Both new owners are thrilled that the Park is planned to close. It's not bad for everyone.

Not so fast. The last two spec homes I built butted up to the East and West borders of the Park respectively. Both new owners are thrilled that the Park is planned to close. It's not bad for everyone.

And some people made $$$ supplying concentration camps - doesn't mean it's right or for the general good. :roll:

And some people made $$$ supplying concentration camps - doesn't mean it's right or for the general good. :roll:

That's it. Now you have taken it to far! Now you're diparaging concentration camps??? Not cool.

I continue to be shocked that closing this park could actually happen. Who can we write? Can somebody who understands this better tell us who is making this decision and who can help?

I'm sure many of you have already expressed your feelings to powers that be on a county and state level ... please tell us non-locals who specifically might be in a position to listen and perhaps help.

I continue to be shocked that closing this park could actually happen. Who can we write? Can somebody who understands this better tell us who is making this decision and who can help?

I'm sure many of you have already expressed your feelings to powers that be on a county and state level ... please tell us non-locals who specifically might be in a position to listen and perhaps help.

Who was it that said "It's like the weather, everyone talks about it but nobody ever does anything"?

For those who want to do more than gripe, here's a good source of info on who to write, etc. http://www.waltonoutdoors.com/?p=2324

It would be a shame to see the park closed, in my opinion.

I continue to be shocked that closing this park could actually happen. Who can we write? Can somebody who understands this better tell us who is making this decision and who can help?

I'm sure many of you have already expressed your feelings to powers that be on a county and state level ... please tell us non-locals who specifically might be in a position to listen and perhaps help.

Not everyone thinks this is a bad thing.

Gardening1970, best thing to do is write to Governor Crist...get as many people as you can who feel as you do, to write to him. Let him know if you are a property owner, tourist, or both...numbers count in the Gov's office, so everyone who cares about this issue needs to write.

The address is in the link posted above.

Exactly what does "closing" Deer Lake State Park entail--removing the portapotty, and putting a chain on both the walkover and at the parking entrance ?? Big deal...

I'll figure out a way to still use it. (he-he).

"But officer, I did not know I was breaking the law,
it won't happen again, (or should I have said again this week!!)

Exactly what does "closing" Deer Lake State Park entail--removing the portapotty, and putting a chain on both the walkover and at the entrance and the parking entrance ?? Big deal...

I'll figure out a way to still use it. (he-he).

"But officer, I did not know I was breaking the law,
it won't happen again, (or should I have said again this week!!)

Where did you find that little dude chillin' on the beach?

Go to the smilies..click on "more" at the bottom....