"When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change." --- Lord Falkland, JFK's favorite conservative British politician said it best. What's going on with our state parks under DeSANTISTAN? Since 2006, I have spoken out publicly in favor of preserving our state owned lands with a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, first proposed in 1939 by both U.S. Senators, the Congressman and Mayor Walter Fraser.
St. Augustine's environmentally protected Anastasia State Park is a true treasure and must be preserved and protected. It must not be plowed under at the whim of honor of weird other-directed DeSANTIS appointees. Speak out against this hare-brained scheme by maladroit "DEP," which my late friend David Thundershield Queen said stands for "DON''T EXPECT PROTECTION." Notice that they've scheduled a one hour meeting with three minutes per commenter -- are you kidding me?
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From St. Augustine Record, August 21, 2024:
Florida agency plans to build a 350-room hotel, pickleball courts and disc golf in Anastasia State Park
Lucia Viti
Earlier this week, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection launched its 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative. According to a news release, the initiative is designed to increase public access and outdoor activities while providing “new lodging options” in nine Florida state parks, including St. Augustine’s Anastasia Island State Park.
The DEP is slated to increase Anastasia State Park's overnight stay opportunities by adding campsites, cabins and lodging on park property along with “recreational opportunities” such as pickleball, disc golf, golf and paddling to "reinforce a dedication to conservation, outdoor recreation economy and quality of life."
“Through this initiative, DEP will update state park plans for increased public access, while employing the same best practices utilized by DEP and park systems across the country,” the release said.
The statement underscored that DEP’s improvements will remain reflective of Florida’s heritage with park-specific resources that maintain compatibility with the park’s landscape while providing visitor amenities.
The Anastasia State Park Draft UPM Amendment includes building a 350-room park lodge in the southern region east of the campground. The amendment also documents that a borrow pit, dug prior to park acquisition, offers a potentially viable site for a portion of the lodge. According to the amendment, the view from the lodge will include maritime hammocks, dune ridges and the Atlantic beach. Design considerations will keep the campground separate to ensure "distinct recreational experiences."
Four pickleball courts and a disc golf course will be built into the park’s Salt Run Use Area.
“Users may utilize the existing parking associated with the Salt Run Use Area, which is currently used primarily by paddlers,” according to the written draft amendment. “The new user group may park on the north end of this existing parking area, while paddlers may typically park toward the south. If necessary, parking may be expanded. An existing restroom adjacent to the parking area may be considered for upgrade or expansion as necessary to accommodate the increased recreational activities.”
The initiative promises to evaluate critical wildlife habitat.
Local residents are not too happy.
"This kind of development would be devastating to the ecosystem in that area and completely contrary to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection mission statement to protect, conserve and manage the state's natural resources," Susan Sullivan said. "Our kids, who are now adults, grew up camping at Anastasia. We purchased a home in St Augustine a little over year ago and now spend almost every weekend fishing, hiking, and bike riding at Anastasia State Park. It is a very special place."
"It is the old ask for something so unacceptable that the opposition will be happy with a pared down project, say 75 rooms," Darien Andreu said. "This is common with zoning proposals. The 350 rooms would mean at least 350 cars that need a space to park. And how much of the park will be chewed up to handle the additional parking and traffic?
"There are plenty of rooms within a short drive and even walking distance to the park," she continued. "This is not some gigantic western park."
The DEP will be conducting public meetings across Florida on Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 3 to 4 p.m., which will include presentations and a three-minute per person public comment period. The meeting for Anastasia State Park will be held at St. Augustine’s First Coast Technical College in the Character Counts Conference Center, Building C, 2980 Collins Ave.
The Florida Wildlife Federation is encouraging residents to send emails expressing concerns, and offers template emails on its website at https://floridawildlifefederation.org/action-state-parks-threat.
Click here for a copy of the Anastasia State Park Draft UMP Amendment. A reference map for Anastasia State Park can be found here. Click here for a conceptual land use map. Click here for an online meeting agenda for the Anastasia State Park Public Meeting.
The Florida Park Service was established in 1935 to bolster tourism and manage historical sites and conservation lands. Statistics show that during the Fiscal Year 2022-23, Florida’s 175 state parks attracted nearly 30 million visitors which contributed to an economic impact of $3.6 billion while supporting more than 50,000 jobs. The Florida Park Service is comprised of 175 state parks, trails, and historic sites across more than 815,000 acres and 100 miles of coastline.
More overpriced accomodations for the upper classes! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Florida supports its upper classes! Those who donate to the Republican party will receive a free night in the DeSantis Taj Mahal! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
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