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Lake June Scrub Park Could Close

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: October 21, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Lake June in Winter Scrub State Park and 18 other state parks might temporarily close for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which is in charge of state parks, responded to a legislative budget request for all state agencies to submit 10-percent budget reduction proposals. The fiscal year starts July 1, 2009 and ends June 30, 2010.

Parks chosen for possible closure were those with "low visitation numbers and revenue compared to (parks with) relatively high operating budgets," according to a DEP release.

"We fully intend to re-open the 19 parks potentially facing closure when the state's economy improves," reads the release. "While this was a difficult decision, the proposal reflects our effort to reduce expenditures, while protecting the greatest number of staff members."

Peter Anderson, park manager for both Highlands Hammock State Park and the Lake June park, said Monday that two part-time employees cut grass and maintain the Lake June facility, along with opening the park's entrance gates.

A full-time ranger also divides working hours between both Highlands County state parks. A full-time caretaker will supervise the parks should they be closed.

The 845-acre park includes 3-miles of shoreline on the 3,500-acre Lake June in Winter.

The scrub ecosystem contains several "globally impaired species" found nowhere else, reads a brochure found at the park gate.

"These natural communities are very fragile and extinction is a real threat for many species found here," reads the brochure. The Florida Scrub-jay, Florida's only endemic bird, makes its home here, the brochure adds.

Many plants found at the Lake June park are found nowhere else, said Anderson.

"They're protected and preserved for future generations," said the park manager.

Earnest Gonzales, of Lake Placid, visits the Lake June state park about six times a year, regularly by boat. On Sunday, he drove a dirt road to the park's entrance.

"It's the only part of the lake not developed," said Gonzales. "You don't know what you have until you lose it. It's the only natural part of the lake."

Anderson said the "underused" park, with a $2 entry fee per vehicle, is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days per year.

"But it's well used by those people who recognize its uniqueness," said Anderson.

The reductions will be considered during the 2009 legislative session and will require approval by both the governor and legislature. Lake June's park attendance during FY 2007-2008 was 1,474 and the budget is $44,388.

The 2009-2010 Division of Recreation and Parks budget, which is a part of DEP that runs the park system, calls for a total projected savings of $7,714,771. Possibly closing the 19 parks and turning three other parks back to their owners would save $1.9 million.

The proposed 19 parks that may experience temporary closure are:

Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park- Santa Rosa County;

St. Marks River State Park- Leon County;

Lake June-In-Winter Scrub State Park - Highlands County;

Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park - Nassau County;

Constitution Convention Museum State Park - Gulf County;

John Gorrie Museum State Park - Franklin County;

Deer Lake State Park - Walton County

Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Park - Polk County;

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park - Escambia County;

Terra Ceia Preserve State Park - Manatee County;

Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park - Jefferson County;

Dunns Creek - Putnum County;

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park - Wakulla County;

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park - Monroe County.

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park - Monroe County;

Dudley Farm Historic State Park - Gilchrist County;

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park - Okeechobee County;

Nature and Heritage Tourism Center - Hamilton County;

Cedar Key Museum State Park- Levy County

Bill Rettew Jr. may be reached at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com Bill Rettew Jr. may be reached at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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