Rick Scott rushing through plans allowing fatcats to build/run private campgrounds in FL state parks

[seafan]

From an archived thread a few days back...


Under the radar attack on state parks

St. Petersburg Times
June 28, 2011

Displaying contempt for the public and the environment, Gov. Rick Scott's Department of Environmental Protection has provided only scant notice of its plan to turn over portions of up to 56 state parks to private corporations to build and run campgrounds. As early as next week, the department could decide to move forward on four parks, including Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County. Such radical policy changes affecting some of the state's most prized natural assets deserve far more public vetting and consideration.

It appears that DEP's Division of Recreation and Parks learned a lesson earlier this year from state Sen. John Thrasher. When Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, brashly floated a plan to turn over several state parks to build a Jack Nicklaus golf trail, the former House speaker was forced to retreat quickly in the wake of public outrage. The parks division has made no such pronouncement, launching the bold initiative mostly outside the public's view, not unlike how DEP abruptly scuttled conservation land buys at water management districts and forced out their managers.

Earlier this month, the division won approval, 7-2, from DEP's Acquisition and Restoration Council, a little-noticed advisory group, to expedite the planning process to create more private concessions at the 56 state parks. But this is more than privatizing snack bars, canoe rentals or gift shops. It's about turning over portions of state parks to private enterprises to build and run campgrounds, often in environmentally sensitive locations that are already being heavily utilized by day visitors.

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Generations of Floridians and their tax dollars have built one of the best state park systems in the country. DEP's curiously quiet campaign to abruptly change that system is reckless. The parks division should slow down and make its case to the public that swaths of unspoiled public parks should be turned into commercial profit centers filled with RVs.

March 10, 2011:

We've already seen these thieves at the gate, as they pushed for golf courses in our state parks.

They are back, pushing now for privately-run campgrounds and concessions in our state parks, some of which have remained pristinely undeveloped.





Gov. Rick Scott defends plan to expand camping in state parks

By Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer
July 2, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Despite strong criticism from members of his own party, Republican Gov. Rick Scott on Friday defended his administration's push to add new campgrounds with spaces for recreational vehicles in more than 50 state parks, including Dunedin's popular Honeymoon Island State Park.

"The reason we have parks is so people will use them," Scott said after giving a brief speech to the Florida Society of News Editors meeting at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. "We have to make our parks available to people, with whatever amenities we can add to help people use the parks more."

State officials are pushing a plan to let private contractors design, build and operate new campsites in 56 state parks where camping now is not allowed. The campsites would have to accommodate not only tent camping but also popup trailers and RVs. The new campgrounds will also need roads, restrooms, bathhouses, playgrounds, electric connections, grills and other amenities, too.

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Members of Scott's own party are strongly opposed to this move by Scott and his Department of "Environmental Protection" (DEP) to send in his corporate vultures to run private concessions in our pristine parks.

Vehemently opposed to Scott's plans are Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. Private RV park operators are also opposed.



According to this article, a public hearing will be held on the changes to Honeymoon Island at 7 pm Tuesday, July 5, at the Hale Senior Activity Center, 330 Douglas Ave., Dunedin.


According to this article, the hearing on De Leon Springs will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, in De Leon Springs United Methodist Church.




Halt privatized campsites at Florida parks, some state senators urge

By Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel
10:12 p.m. EDT, July 2, 2011

A push for privately developed and operated campgrounds in Florida state parks, a concept that worries some environmentalists and lawmakers, shifts this week from bureaucratic offices to local public meetings that will consider the fate of De Leon Springs, Honeymoon Island and two other sites.

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....little feedback from a public largely kept in the dark — is what worries environmentalists, who think state officials are hurrying a major shift in park policy without enough consideration of possible negative consequences from the building of roads, bath and shower houses, and concrete pads for RVs.

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....the idea of privately managed camping was discussed in great detail last month by the state Acquisition and Restoration Council, whose 11 members are drawn from state environmental agencies or are appointed by those agencies and the governor to oversee management of conservation lands.

The ARC, told by its staff that DEP intends to expand family campgrounds by allowing facilities "designed, constructed and operated by private entities," approved a way to speed up the process for amending state-park management plans to allow the addition of family camping.

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Yep. Looks like Rick Scott and his appointed council and DEP have their marching orders. This is why he wants to be in control of all facets of these agencies.


Next on Rick Scott's rape and pillage agenda are our state parks.


On to the next frontal assault by this grifter.