Deer Lake State Park [update - not closing]

[waltonco lover]

If in fact, the park is closing because the state does not have the money to support it blush, I am all for organizing a fund raiser. But first, I think that we should have a group form and request to be on the agenda for the BCC's next meeting (in January) and discuss this issue with them. Maybe between the BCC and the TDC we could get some ideas on what needs to be done to keep the park open?

 

[Smiling JOe]

scooter, you are so right. Maybe we should include the State Legislators' and Governor's expense sheets with our requests to keep Deer Park open.

 

[full time]

If in fact, the park is closing because the state does not have the money to support it blush, I am all for organizing a fund raiser. But first, I think that we should have a group form and request to be on the agenda for the BCC's next meeting (in January) and discuss this issue with them. Maybe between the BCC and the TDC we could get some ideas on what needs to be done to keep the park open?

You can shoot a cannon down 30A tonight and not hit a sole. That tells you all you need to know about why Deer Lake is closing.

 

[Matt J]

You can shoot a cannon down 30A tonight and not hit a sole. That tells you all you need to know about why Deer Lake is closing.

So therefore it should be closed full time?

 

[beachmouse]

You can shoot a cannon down 30A tonight and not hit a sole. That tells you all you need to know about why Deer Lake is closing.

Because the time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas usually sees the area overflowing with tourists, and it's a fluke that it's the quietest time of 2008?

 

[Smiling JOe]

You can shoot a cannon down 30A tonight and not hit a sole. That tells you all you need to know about why Deer Lake is closing.

...and that means what? That we should close every business and Park on 30A during the weeks leading up to Christmas? The Beach is also empty, in both directions, but I haven't seen anyone proposing that we close the beaches. Your math doesn't add up correctly.

 

[DuneLaker]

Because the time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas usually sees the area overflowing with tourists, and it's a fluke that it's the quietest time of 2008?

The numbers on this would be interesting to see. For instance, is there a small dip after Thanksgiving to say around Dec. 15 when colleges and schools are out and Snowbirds rev up their migration to SoWal? There also seems to always be some sort of relief on 30A traffic after Spring Break and Easter and colleges and schools releasing for Summer. A few weeks light traffic on 30A is no reason to close Deer Lake, one of the areas large drawing cards. I cherish the few days I can walk down to the beach and be the only one in sight, even if it is just for a few minutes or during cold and bad weather. I then look forward to more people enjoying our superior beaches and local assets and businesses.

 

[beachmouse]

The gap times to me are the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that little bit of late April/early May, and then the last two weeks of August that aren't part of the Labor Day weekend.

 

[full time]

...and that means what? That we should close every business and Park on 30A during the weeks leading up to Christmas? The Beach is also empty, in both directions, but I haven't seen anyone proposing that we close the beaches. Your math doesn't add up correctly.

It means I have never seen South Walton this quiet and I am by no means new to the area. It means that lack of activity is probably a glimpse into what is occurring all over the State, maybe the country. It means that the State evidently feels that it needs to trim costs from its budget given the economic environment. It means that the State feels that two other public parks in the same county are sufficient to meet the recreational needs of the populace and tourists that will visit this area. I doubt seriously that closure of that particular park is going to have any significant effect on any local who would like to visit that particular beach.

 

[Smiling JOe]

So you think that trimming $6000 from the State's annual budget is due to the bad economy? There are real things to cut from the State Budget, but this isn't one. The County has been considering other properties for purchase, because it feels the need to have more accesses to the very thing which brings people to this area -- the beach. Money is tight, so they have passed, but if real cost of operating this Park is $6,000 per year, I think the County would jump at the chance to keep this Park open, even if it meant paying for the cost. The TDC will spend more than that on running a couple of ads.