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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #787 |
| Wall Springs Park |
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| Requester: |
Elithia Stanfield |
Organization: |
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners |
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| Project Title: |
Wall Springs Park |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 9:21:39 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Fasano |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The acquisition of three parcels of Wall Springs Park, referred to as the McMullen property or Wall Springs Coastal Additions I, II & III were funded in part by Florida Forever Program funds, from Florida Communities Trust (FCT). The property was considered environmentally sensitive conservation land that two times scored #1 in rankings for FCT funding. A state approved Management Plan on file at FCT and annual Stewardship Reports are submitted to the state for progress on property development and management. The properties contain globally imperiled sand hill and scrub habitats (reference Florida Natural Areas Inventory per Florida State University) and park development on the site will proceed with conservation of these sensitive habitats at the forefront. The park is also home to 25 federally and/or State endangered, threatened or Species of Special concern. Archeological studies done on site resulted in the filing of numerous aritifacts with the Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. Ten new prehistoric sites were logged with Florida Master Site Files at the Florida Department of State. In order to be good stewards of the property and with strong citizen support, the passive recreation development plans for these acquisitions north of the existing developed park site have been altered to accommodate increased conservation of the resources on this portion of the park. The section of the park currently open to the public draws over 359,000 annual visitors, including out-of-county and out-of-state visitors. The national recognized Pinellas Trail, designated by the Office of Greenways and Trails and a National Recreation Trail, runs parallel to Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor and is identified as a trail destination. Wall Springs Park is also listed on the Eastern Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail and contributes to state ecotourism via this designation. |
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| Recipient: |
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners |
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Contact: |
Debbie Chayet |
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315 Court Street |
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Contact Phone: |
(727) 582-2521 |
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Clearwater 33756 |
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Contact email: |
dchayet@pinellascounty.org |
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| Counties: |
Pinellas |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| This project is the development Florida Forever parcels of Wall Springs Park in northwestern Pinellas County. The park is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico and contains an active spring with historical uses as a spa and swimming area. The property has been acquired as 18 separate parcels, with the last acquisition in December 2004, and now comprises 200 acres that preserve sensitive spring and marine estuary habitat. The property also contains globally imperiled sand hill and scrub habitat, which resulted in high priority funding by the Florida Communities Trust Florida Forever Program. The property abuts the Pinellas Trail; a 47-mile long nationally recognized urban trail system. Development of the property for recreational use has already begun with picnic shelters, restrooms, parking, fishing pier, multi-story observation tower and boardwalk trails along the waterfront recently opened to the public. Educational features will include interpretive signage, hands-on activities and a future educational classroom. Archeological hands-on studies have already been done on site with volunteer assistance under the auspices of an archeologist. Over 8,700 artifacts are in the process of being preserved and catalogued. Public participation has been heavy with considerable public input in the park planning process. A primitive camping area for youth was opened this year. Continued development will incorporate passive recreational amenities including picnic shelters, an extensive nature trail system, parking, restrooms and observation platforms. Southwest Florida Water Management District is providing grant funding to restore a marine connection to the currently land blocked inner bays of Boggy Bayou and provide restoration plantings to the outflow pond of the spring, located in the portion of the park open to the public, for water quality improvements. Passive development of the northern parcels on sensitive conservation land is identified in the Pinellas County Capital Improvement Program. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Compliance with Florida Communities Trust state approved Management Plan. Passive development of over 120 acres of environmentally sensitive recreational land for the over 17 million annual visitors to the Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department properties. Provides green space recreation in a county at 98% buildout. Complies with Comprehensive Land Use plan for recreation and open space needs. Protection of spring. Preservation of significant nationally protected ecosystems (sand hill and scrub which is listed by Florida Natural Areas Inventory as globally imperiled). Preservation of 25 Federally and/or state listed protected species in the park. Educational programming for youth and visitors. Preservation of 10 confirmed prehistoric archaeological sites that are registered with the Florida Bureau of Historical Resources. Compliance with citizen desires for passive activities on the property. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$650,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$827,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$160,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
2005 |
Amount: |
$419,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Comprehensive Land Use Plan for recreation & open space needs. |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
