Here are the 53 Florida state parks proposed for closure:
Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, Haines City
Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park, Stuart
Big Shoals State Park, White Springs
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, Flagler Beach
Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach
Cedar Key State Museum State Park, Cedar Key
Colt Creek State Park, Lakeland
Constitution Convention Museum State Park, Port St. Joe
Crystal River Archaeological State Park, Crystal River
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Bushnell
Dagny Johsnon Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo
Deer Lake State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, Gainesville
Don Pedro Island State Park, Boca Granda
Dudley Farm Historic State Park, Newberry
Dunn’s Creek State Park, Pomona
Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Estero
Fort Cooper State Park, Inverness
Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Jacksonville
Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine
John Gorrie Museum State Park, Apalachicola
Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, Ellenton
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park, Sebring
Lake Talquin State Park, Tallahassee
Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Islamorada
Madison Blue Spring State Park, Lee
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Cross Creek
Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park, Woodville
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Olustee
Orman House Historic State Park, Apalachicola
Paynes Creek Historic State Park, Bowling Green
Peacock Springs State Park, Luraville
Perdido Key State Park, Pensacola
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, Ponce de Leon
Projected Savings: $6.5 million
Read more - http://floridaindependent.com/20411/idea-for-trimming-the-budget-close-53-state-parks (http://floridaindependent.com/20411/idea-for-trimming-the-budget-close-53-state-parks)
Looks like our idiot thief governor is saving money from taking our play places away...this guy is going to take this state to the pits...thanks alot idiot republicans...
That would be very disappointing. I say that as I am about to load up my car and take my family to Goldhead State Park for a weekend of camping. For a savings of $6.5 million? Very shortsighted - and the fact it was proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection is very telling. Sounds like the fox is watching the henhouse.
Sounds like an idea right out of DISNEY CENTRAL, Remember the mouse is really a RAT! At least we know the kind of vermin the governor sleeps with.
OCKLAWAHA
Assuming they'd close, what's the plan for the future of these properties? To sell them off?
I would be surprised if they closed. My guess is that it is a shot across the bow preparing people for something else.
Seeing Olustee on the list, to my Civil War Re-enactor friends who voted for Scott - how's that workin' out for ya?
I am sure there are folks interested in snapping up some of these properties, who probably appear on campaign contribution lists.
Pretty short sighted thing to do. Some of these parks contribute more than a small amount to local economy. Olustee is a good example. They are getting ready for their battlefield reenactment in 3 weeks. People who participate and people who attend will be spending money locally as a boost to those merchants.
That'd be a real shame if they were to close. Some really great parks are on that list. I love Big Shoals and Olustee especially. I just can't imagine that some of those parks are very expensive to run. Like the Devil's Millhopper. It's an enormous sinkhole. No camping. Some trails. A set of stairs. How much do you save by closing that? And who would be interested in taking over a hole in the ground 500 feet across and 120 feet deep? Very short-sighted plan if you ask me.
Mill Hopper Chase
Olustee Trace
Ponce De Leon Place
Estro Bay Estates
Lake Jackson Hills
Fort George Hills
Cross Creek Trails
Big Shoals Run
Crystal River Shores
Perdido
Yeah Perdido Governor Scott, PERDIDO!
El gobernador con el alma perdida! Scott, es una maldición sobre el estado, Florida es perdida.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Fallen Buckeye on January 29, 2011, 12:48:10 PM............... I just can't imagine that some of those parks are very expensive to run. Like the Devil's Millhopper. It's an enormous sinkhole. No camping. Some trails. A set of stairs. How much do you save by closing that? .............
Probalby not much singularly but all together is seems bigger. For example, annual savings $6.5 million/53 parks puts it in he average $122k each. I can see it. For example John Gorie Musemuem is a 6 room house with a ranger. Constitution State park is bigger, but one visit is enough for me and it took an hour. The kids get more use out of the grounds as background for senior prom pictures.
You must have voted for Scott. This will be a long 4 years....
Since there will soon be no EPA, DEP, etc (not that they really protect the environment) Devill's millhoppr could become a great big dump. It does not matter that it will poison the water table. I'm sure he had a contributor in wate management....
This savings is a drop in the bucket compared to the state budget. I'm sure he can pay for this out of his pocket, if so needed. A better use of state money would be to transfer some of the landscaping money out of the FDOT, or other area, and keep the parks open. I think I saw they were going to spend something like $1.4 million on the 9A JTB area soon ( but this might be on hold subjet to govenor review). I'm sure there are many more examples of wasted money.
absolutely moronic
Quote from: Overstreet on January 29, 2011, 04:26:26 PM
Quote from: Fallen Buckeye on January 29, 2011, 12:48:10 PM............... I just can't imagine that some of those parks are very expensive to run. Like the Devil's Millhopper. It's an enormous sinkhole. No camping. Some trails. A set of stairs. How much do you save by closing that? .............
Probalby not much singularly but all together is seems bigger. For example, annual savings $6.5 million/53 parks puts it in he average $122k each. I can see it.
REALLY?QuoteFor example John Gorie Musemuem is a 6 room house with a ranger.
Yeah, something that small should just be knocked down, it was just some guy that invented refrigeration, which led to air conditioning, which led to the populating of the State of Florida... I mean what the hell right?
I heard Rick Scott always cooks with wine, and sometimes he even adds food to it. QuoteConstitution State park is bigger, but one visit is enough for me and it took an hour.
It too YOU a whole hour? I would have thought you might have clipped the Constitution down to 15 minutes, what should I care, it's just an old piece of paper. QuoteThe kids get more use out of the grounds as background for senior prom pictures.
What a great idea, let the kids decide, if we take it a step farther we could save even more by eliminating all of the public schools. Meanwhile we can abandon those wasteful parks, and use the sites as photo opportunities until such time as we can sell them to a tract developer. We can print pulp paper comics with all of the states history in them complete with photos of extinct things like fresh water springs, natural wonders, and blood soaked sand. Imagine where this could go if we elect him President? How many condos do you think we could get out of the stone in that stupid old fort in St Augustine? 10? 20?
Scott has a style that nobody else has, and I think when you're separate from the rest, it makes you kind of special. Hell when you enter the Governors room, you have to kiss his ring. I don't mind, but he has it in his back pocket. What a ration of imbecility... (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bQsuhPJduqQ/TUTJjOQRD1I/AAAAAAAAEKM/Vo6xviCksdA/s800/MYtrolleyimage-1.jpg)
Even if these parks are saved (one would certainly hope so), it's sad this is even up for discussion. In the name of "creating jobs" we are going to kill the environment, parks, education, and cultural institutions under Scott (I can't bring myself to preface his name with the title he holds). Why would anyone want a job in Florida without quality of life. Especially, all those "decision makers" who so often determine where the jobs go based on where they want to live.
Every day that goes by, Scott reveals himself as the person those who didn't vote for him so greatly feared. He may even be worse if that's possible.
I believe he has so over-promised what he can deliver that he can't possibly deliver and keep the electorate happy. His Republican legislature is either going to cave into him and risk losing their lock on this state for years to come or they will mutiny, and leave Scott to hang by his own rope. Hopefully, they are smart enough to do the latter.
As to 53 parks, they likely represent a value in land and buildings of hundreds of millions of dollars. And, as noted, they may very well have an economic value far in excess of the paltry $6 million in savings. If Scott has to get to this level to balance a multi-billion dollar budget, then the State is a hell of lot more efficient at what it does than he has given it credit for. Bet he doesn't have a problem coming up with many more millions than this for his business cronies and voucher programs. Oh, and we have so many millions lying around, he can do away with the state corporate income tax and cut property taxes some more. Scott is making George Bush's "fuzzy math" look like an Einstein theory.
Time for some environmental payback?
Someone want to switch Scott's tea with St Johns River water next time he is in Jax?
I apologize in advance for sounding crass, but I hope that Florida closes all 53 state parks to serve as a lesson to us Floridians for voting based on slick advertising campaigns... We put Mr. Scott in office, now we have to live with the consequences...
This is what happens when people refuse, under any circumstance, to consider tax increases
Quote from: tufsu1 on January 30, 2011, 09:05:10 AM
This is what happens when people refuse, under any circumstance, to consider tax increases
This is also what happens when people who could and should vote... Dont bother to.
to close Fort George is unthinkable.....
I'm guessing Governor Scott doesn't spend much time at our state parks. We went to Goldhead State Park for a cub scout campout and lucked upon the 'Yesterday Festival'. I asked my kids afterwards which they would rather do, spend a weekend at Disney or a weekend running around in the woods and learning a little something about history. The state park won - which is good for me because we spent less than $50 this weekend versus the $500+ we would have spent at Disney.
A replica of the Hunley (Confererdate States of America submarine):
(http://i54.tinypic.com/seqeex.jpg)
Buttermaking:
(http://i51.tinypic.com/f9paa9.jpg)
Sawmill (from the 20's):
(http://i51.tinypic.com/zj9esg.jpg)
Tool horse:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/fw2hlh.jpg)
-Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, Gainesville
That is one of the most geologically unique places in Central Florida. I went there on a date once and just happened upon 10-20 Native American chief's, shamen, and tribesmen performing sacred rituals and blessings for the area. They said that park is sacred and one of the great treasures of the area. To shut that down would be a crime. So it should feel pretty familiar for Voldemort.
Good point, Captain. These park personnel are local people who will become unemployed. They live in these towns or rural areas and contribute to the economy there. The park will be closed to the public but open to vandals, poaching, and desecration of special places. Neighboring landowners will certainly get some of the spin-off too. Nice, eh?
Wow can you imagine what a cool 4x4 course will be created out of the Millhopper?
Also, those who think we should be punished failed to notice I SURE AS HELL DIDN'T BRING HIM IN!
OCKLAWAHA
Guys, I'm not sure that the parks will be turned over for development. It seems that simply closing them will only eliminate access (i.e. closing down the ranger stations, tours, etc.) but the lands could still be retained as preserves and later reopened. I don't know that this is the Gov's intent, however.
is this just a shot over the bow, or a real threat? Who knows what Scott really plans to do, and it seems like he won't let anybody really know. I feel that closing these, will only allow the vandals and others to cause problems. Along with the dollar amount saved, how about the number of jobs that will be lost?
BTW - this list came out in October. I don't remember who the governer was then.
http://bruceritchie.blogspot.com/2011/01/florida-house-members-uneasy-with.html (http://bruceritchie.blogspot.com/2011/01/florida-house-members-uneasy-with.html)
QuoteState agencies last fall were asked to come up with 15-percent budget cut proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. State legislators are confronting a potential budget shortfall of $3.62 billion as they head into the 2011 session.
In response, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in October proposed measures including saving $6.5 million by closing 53 parks that are only open during daylight hours. Those parks represent one-third of the 160 state parks but they have combined attendance of nearly 1.1 million, or 5.4 percent of statewide park visitation. (To download the list, click here)
It's one thing to make a list, another to implement it. Wonder if any attempt was made at considering public-private alliances for these parks. If they are so "small", volunteers could probably help a lot too.
Though, I again go back to my original thought, this is a false saving toward balancing the State budget if we are going to magnify the State deficit by eliminating the corporate income tax and reducing property taxes.
DEP came up with a BS list to provoke a public backlash.
Here is a thought: $6.5 million to keep these parks open or that amount plus another $1.5 million in annual cash outlays (exclusive of capital expenses) to keep the Skyway going each year? Is there really any contest? :D Just shows what we could do if we had that money available for other projects.
^Speaking of that, I'm interested to learn about Mullaney's intentions for the money saved by shutting the skyway down. Will it be used to fund an alternative mode of transit or will it go to other uses?
neither....it is all about reducing the size of government and getting our fiscal house in order....I so love those catch phrases ;)
Looks like I'll have to trek over to Madison Blue Springs every weekend when it warms up. I'd be very disappointed to see that go!
Quote from: tufsu1 on February 01, 2011, 02:24:57 PM
neither....it is all about reducing the size of government and getting our fiscal house in order....I so love those catch phrases ;)
Which is why, when I talk to candidates, I ask them specifically: Once you find out there is no more money to be saved by 'streamlining our city government and eliminating waste', what specific city services will you be cutting?
I haven't heard a satisfactory answer yet. Everyone is bold to claim that they won't raise taxes, nobody is willing to say what they will cut. Except Rick - so I give him credit for that. But I don't agree with his choice.
Quote from: Jaxson on January 30, 2011, 01:11:00 AM
I apologize in advance for sounding crass, but I hope that Florida closes all 53 state parks to serve as a lesson to us Floridians for voting based on slick advertising campaigns... We put Mr. Scott in office, now we have to live with the consequences...
No doubt for the Simpletons State Park closure of no economic consequence.
And the fact that Scott 'won' by such a slim margin really rubs the sea salt in.
Such close margins have been a hallmark of many recent campaign wins.
Scott had the NRA endorsement yet many ardent 'pro gun' voters ignored that and voted for Sink-another hallmark.
As a lawful gun owner,the most damaging thing one could do to society is to blindly follow NRA endorsements.
Some day we will figure out our politics are as 'complicated' as Egypt.......
It's been a wild party and now the bowl hugging commences...........or maybe we have simply passed out.
It used to be that when the plain folk found out about corrupt politicians they screamed foul play and demanded action be taken as far as demanding punishment or removal from office. The screamingly hilarious thing about Scott is the plain folk knew he was corrupt before he ever got into office, but they put him in anyway. My how things have changed.
Quote from: dougskiles on February 01, 2011, 04:27:27 PM
I haven't heard a satisfactory answer yet. Everyone is bold to claim that they won't raise taxes, nobody is willing to say what they will cut. Except Rick - so I give him credit for that. But I don't agree with his choice.
actually no...Audrey Moran has made it clear she is not willing to pledge no new taxes....she believes making a "promiose" like Mullaney and Hogan are doing is irresponsible...and history, be it Bush 41 or Peyton, has shown she's right!
Quote from: tufsu1 on February 01, 2011, 09:12:42 PM
actually no...Audrey Moran has made it clear she is not willing to pledge no new taxes....she believes making a "promiose" like Mullaney and Hogan are doing is irresponsible...and history, be it Bush 41 or Peyton, has shown she's right!
No argument there. And don't forget Reagan in your list. There were a few tax increases on his watch also. Gasp!