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Highlands Today

County Must Protect Public Access To Public Lakes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

The Lake Denton Committee voted 4-1 to close public access to one of our county's nicest lakes. County lake officials said they will fight closing public access when they make their case to county commissioners before an ultimate decision is made. We hope the lake officials are successful.

We understand what the Lake Denton Committee is saying. The property owned by the county is just too small to accommodate a large public presence. However, public access should not be denied on a public lake, especially Lake Denton. So it's time for the county to step up and make this a usable space by expanding it.

It's fundamentally wrong to close public access to something owned by the public. In Lake Denton we have a wonderful resource that should be enjoyed by anyone wishing to swim, scuba or picnic in or near its clear waters.

Instead of closing the boat ramp access that so many people have used, and is the cause of so much controversy, the county must find a way to expand the access so it can be developed into something much bigger and better. This should have been done years ago, before it was developed to the extent is has been. But we can still make this a usable space.

Poor foresight has left too little access for the public on the many lakes that make this such a special place. Instead, most of our public lakes are almost private, with little more than a boat ramp available. That's fine, but not everyone here can afford boats and many certainly cannot afford lake-front houses. But their taxes pay for the upkeep and protection of these lakes just like anyone else, and they deserve quality access to them.

A lot of people in Highlands County have never been to Lake Denton, and might not ever go there, but the idea of closing public access to the lake is unacceptable. We agree with that sentiment and the county should put an aggressive plan into place to reclaim the public's right to recreation on these lakes and make the investment necessary to protect it.

It's not too late and generations of residents will be thankful that someone finally stepped up and did the right thing.

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