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It's time for state to give some attention to park

A state park showcasing the unhurried, unspoiled beauty of coastal west Pasco is satisfying its mission a little too well.

A half-dozen years after the state took control of what is now Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, the 3,400 acres remain mostly inaccessible except for a trailhead off Scenic Drive in Port Richey. It is a discouraging construction pace that limits public enjoyment of the Old Florida marshlands in urbanized Pasco County. The park is just west of the concrete and asphalt commercial strip that is U.S. 19.

As Times staff writer Bridget Hall Grumet detailed, the park's development has been stalled by rearranged spending priorities due to last summer's hurricanes and the wait for a permit to start construction of a 1,000-foot boardwalk. Those delays are understandable, but frustrating.

State park officials told Grumet they intend to request $1-million next year from the Legislature for the park. Swell, but how come nobody asked this year? A piecemeal approach is more successful if somebody seeks pieces at regular intervals.

We must note that the state hasn't been idle all of the time. The Cabinet authorized spending $3.7-million in 2001 and 2002 to acquire additional parcels. The purchase of 50 acres included the planned entrance from U.S. 19, behind the Sears Service Center at Gulf View Square mall. Still, that gateway remains unbuilt, even though state officials said in 2001 that the highway entrance would enhance public use in light of the 55,000 vehicles passing the park site daily.

Later, the state added 27 acres to expand the park's uplands. The second purchase put the state in a position to acquire an adjoining 5-acre parcel that is home to a natural spring. The acquisition also protected land that had been been zoned for more than 225 homes.

While development of the park has been slow, the preservation effort is welcome. The state and county worked for more than a dozen years to turn the once privately owned land into a public entity.

Now, the focus should be on maximizing its potential. The park is not intended for heavy recreation use. There will be no beach, fishing pier, swimming site or motorboat launch ramp. Protected mangroves and the park's location a mile from the Gulf of Mexico prohibit building a beach and pier.

But the land is to be more than just a fenced preserve. The Florida Division of Recreation and Parks unveiled plans more than four years ago, calling for a canoe launch, boardwalks above the salt marshes, an observation deck and a camping area. There is to be 70 to 100 miles of meandering canoe paths, 5 to 10 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails, a ranger station and information kiosks. The original schedule called for most of the amenities to be available by 2002. Obviously, that schedule is kaput, though much of it likely can be explained by reduced government spending amid the economic downturn after 9/11.

Now, however, with a healthy economy spurring record state spending, it is not unreasonable for Pasco residents and visitors to expect the state to complete the park in a more timely manner.

[Last modified July 6, 2005, 00:50:11]