Deer Lake State Park [update - not closing]

[soappedaler]

Be very careful what you ask for from the County Commission! If they got their hands on Deer Lake State Park you’ll get a 200 car parking lot on the Beach. The TDC under Malcolm Patterson’s watch tried this with the County Commission backing him. If not for the work of Beach to Bay Connection Malcolm and the county would have a 200 car parking lot in or on the dunes.

Also if you were here in the early 90’s you may remember the county commission wanted part of Point Washington State Forest and Grayton Beach State Park so they could turn around and sell it to developers, who were probably already lined up, for a big fat profit. I’m not making this up!

Here’s my opinion on the DEP’s situation. They are asked to cut x amount of dollars from the budget. They inflate the cost of closing parks so that they don’t have to close as many.

Once again if the County Commission manages a Beach Park it will become one giant parking lot.

One more thing, St. Joe signed a settlement agreement with the state saying they will not attempt to get anymore of the land they sold to ECJV that the state subsequently purchased. If the county gets their hands on what is now forest and park land they could certainly make a deal with St. Joe Arvida. (The settlement agreement is on file in the county records it’s a fairly long document.)

 

[GoodWitch58]

thanks for the reminder, Soappedler...I think there is a chance to change the state's mind about closing Deer Lake.

You are right, it would become a parking lot under BCC..just like the beautiful nature area donated by Mrs. Kellogg has a paved parking lot!

 

[Kurt]

Walton County may take over Deer Lake State Park | state, county, lake - News - Northwest Florida Daily News
Walton County may take over Deer Lake State Park
The park is among 19 the state might close to cut costs

SANTA ROSA BEACH -Walton County commissioners have agreed to consider taking over management of Deer Lake State Park, one of 19 state parks that could be closed indefinitely to help ease the state's financial crunch.
"We do not want Deer Lake closed," said Marsha Anderson, chairwoman of the Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Committee.
Deer Lake is one of the rare coastal dune lakes that lie along the 26-miles of coastline in the county.
Anderson has asked the county's staff to contact state officials to find out whether it is possible for the county to take over the park from the state.
Commissioner Sara Comander said the research should include finding out whether the county could lease the land, how much insurance would cost and whether county inmates can perform maintenance instead of the county contracting with an outside company.
Jessica Kemper, public information officer for the Florida Parks Service, said the Florida Board of Trustees owns the park land and leases it to the state Division of Recreation and Parks.
If the county wanted to take over management of Deer Lake the agency would have to relinquish the lease and the county must work out its own lease, Kemper said.
However, she said the recreation and parks division "does not sublease whole state parks to be managed by other entities," so the commissioners instead must get approval from the board of trustees.
Kemper said the 19 parks slated to be closed were selected based on the number of visitors compared to the cost of keeping them open.
According to state figures, 5,370 people visited Deer Lake in fiscal 2007-08. Its operating budget was $45,479.
Anita Page, director of the South Walton Community Council, estimated the lake's annual operating cost at about $5,700. However, Kemper said that figure only takes into account expenses, not staffing.
She confirmed that Deer Lake and Grayton Beach state parks are managed together because of they are close to one another, but said Deer Lake has its own full-time ranger.
State officials already have said that even if some or all of the parks are closed, no rangers will be laid off, although they may be reassigned.
Page said that if "none of the rangers are going to be laid off anyway, then we're back to $5,700."
"My question is, if it costs $5,700 to operate Deer Lake State Park, what will be the potential impact on Walton County if a gulfside state park is closed?" said Page, who added that the park offers a pristine and undeveloped setting that many other parks lack. "I think it would be much more than $5,700."

 

[DuneLaker]

thanks for the reminder, Soappedler...I think there is a chance to change the state's mind about closing Deer Lake.

You are right, it would become a parking lot under BCC..just like the beautiful nature area donated by Mrs. Kellogg has a paved parking lot!

How could they??!! That is not an "improvement." Such a gap in understanding and implementation.

 

[woodworker]

Warning - Major rant follows! .....

I don't post here very often because topics like this make fire shoot out of my ears! Oops! Don't repeat that or the Building Dept. might write a new code requiring sprinkler systems in rooms that have internet connections.

This is a perfect example of the new America that we (they) have created.

Put this into perspective and watch out for the fire!

If the yearly expense is $6000, which I'm sure will end up to be $6000 + liability insurance + $1 beyond the "deal breaking point", then -

12 highly paid government employees x $500 per year income reduction = $6000.

Downsizing of the building dept., planning and zoning, etc, etc, from lack of use = $6000+.

A mailing to 12,000 residents x $.50 = $6000.

Insurance on county vehicles which are parked a majority of the time = $6000.

And so on, and so on ...............

Get the picture?

We, as a country, are the most screwed group of people, as developed countries go. (not including communist country's, which I'm sure we would qualify for lately.) Income tax + sales tax + gas tax + cigarette tax + property tax + bed tax ++++++++........ let's not even get into small business!

Then when "times get tough" what do they do - close our parks! Thank you sir - may I have another! This is pork fat southern fried BS!!! We are being took, and there's not a damn thing we can do about it, short of pitchforks and torches. But it will never change because the almighty county government is untouchable.

This county government has become very wealthy off this real estate bubble, and now that their budget isn't fully balanced, there going to take the $6000 right out of our entertainment fund. I wonder if they worried about $6000 when they built there new government megaplex.

And by the way - if this is just a recession and things will start getting better in a couple of years, like Mr. Obama and his head in the cloud's followers like to think, then $6000 x 3 years = $18,000.

Then can we have our park back, huh, please mr. government sir, please.

Nope - done deal - too late - more land chopped up.





(Hey - I said it was a rant - if you don't like then wipe it out of your mind).

Gotta go....my file cabinet's on fire!

 

[NotDeadYet]

Nice rant. It's the state budget we are talking about here, though. But your points are still valid, the specifics are just off a tad.

 

[woodworker]

Nice rant. It's the state budget we are talking about here, though. But your points are still valid, the specifics are just off a tad.

Oops. Sorry!

Fire's out, by the way.

 

[woodworker]

Although, I gotta wonder...out of all the parks in Florida, seems strange that Deer Lake got on the list. I'm sure it has nothing to do with it's beach front/large parcel/undiscovered market attributes.

And yes, I think we're still undiscovered...doesn't mean that we can jack up our home prices though.

 

[GoodWitch58]

and I am still waiting to find out how they determined that the park is under used, since there is absolutely no way to count people who are going there!

 

[NotDeadYet]

and I am still waiting to find out how they determined that the park is under used,

Me too. Ever since this thread went up, I have been noticing the entrance when I drive by. And virtually every time I am passing by, there is a car either coming out or turning in. For an under used park, :roll: that sure is a lot of traffic.