State may double park campgrounds

Anastasia State Park at St. Augustine’s south beach is an example that will no doubt be considered when Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council holds their 9:00 a.m. meeting and public hearing on Friday morning.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, has asked for an expedited process for amending land management plans to facilitate the development of new public camping facilities in state parks.

The move, if approved, could lead to doubling the number of parks that allow campgrounds for tents, campers and recreational vehicles.

Although Anastasia State Park concessions their camp store and a kayak rental location to private vendors, the park, including camping, are currently operated by the State.

Under an announced plan, the fifty-six proposed campground locations, would be designed, built and operated by private entities, however, Department of Environmental Protection says that it will retain “full control” over planning, design, construction and operation of the new campgrounds to ensure consistency with the “mission and quality of the park system”.

Anastasia State Park manager, Paul Crawford, said that beachcombing, swimming, picnicking, windsurfing, hiking, wildlife viewing and boating are all part of the experience at the park — as well as camping. Currently, only fifty-three state parks offer campground facilities and Anastasia has been a long time success story for the Division of Recreation and Parks.

Upgrades, that the department will argue create jobs and economic growth, could include construction impervious paved roads, bathhouses or restrooms, playgrounds, as well as infrastructure including water and electricity; which has some environmental groups asking questions.

According to published reports, Audubon of Florida has concerns about maintaining the balance between park development and protection of natural resources — but it supports ways to get more people to go to state parks.

Eric Draper, the group’s executive director, has been quoted saying, “The park system in Florida is well known because it balances human use with protection of natural habitats.”

Audubon of Florida wants people to enjoy “natural Florida” and won’t want to see the park’s commercial enterprises take precedence over protected wildlife habitats such as the burrows and tall grass that are home to the endangered Anastasia Island Beach Mouse.

After a public outcry against the idea during the last legislative session, Republican Senator John Thrasher of St. Augustine, withdrew SB 1846 that would have created the Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail — with new golf courses at five state parks.

If you plan to attend the meeting Friday, June 10, 2011, it will be held at the Department of Environmental Protection Conference Room “A” in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building located at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard in Tallahassee.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by Anastasia State Park