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Guest Commentary: Delnor-Wiggins Pass garage is not the solution
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The proposed “solution” at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is not a solution at all but rather a “sellout” to the developers of the Moraya Bay condos.
I use the current parking facility frequently during the week to fish on Vanderbilt Beach. Collier County’s proposed solution will require me to transport all my gear across two busy roads and limit my ability to access the beach. Furthermore, county commissioners, you have now caused the following to occur:
n Handicapped people will have to negotiate this busy intersection without any assistance. I believe this could cause a very dangerous situation to pedestrian and auto traffic alike. It would make more sense and be “more resident and voter friendly” to provide a tram service much as currently exists at Clam Pass.
n The suggested two-tiered parking facility at Delnor-Wiggins’ Beach No. 4 is a travesty to the pristine nature of the park. The sign that greets park visitors just inside the entrance gate says ”Welcome to the Real Florida.” That will have to be removed since there is virtually no way you can hide such a monstrosity.
The park does not need a food vendor or other added facilities. As a frequent visitor to Delnor-Wiggins, I almost always see park visitors cooking out on one of the many outdoor grills that are easily accessed around the entire park. In the past year, the park has begun replacing all the old grills with newer stainless steel grills that obviously are better and easier to use than the old grills. The park has been doing its job of serving the public’s needs.
A food vendor at Beach No. 4 would require someone who enjoys the solitude of Beach No. 1 to walk over a mile and a half round trip in the sand. Is that fair and user-friendly?
n Furthermore, the park has one access road. Placing the parking facility that deep into the park will only cause more traffic issues and congestion on the beach, because beach access to swimming is limited and/or forbidden on Beach No. 5 due to the strong currents at Wiggins Pass. This increased traffic deep in the bounds of the park may also cause more danger to hikers, bikers and walkers alongside the road.
Fishing is permitted from the dividing line of Beaches No. 4 and 5 north to and into the pass. Where will all these people go? Beach No. 4 will be unable to handle the load and accidents will certainly occur as swimmers disregard the signs and get involved with fishermen/women using the areas assigned to them.
It seems to me that if beach access in North Naples is such an important item for county government, the tram idea has the most merit and would cause the fewest disruptions to one of Florida’s most pristine and family-friendly beaches contained in the park and on Vanderbilt Beach itself.
Proceed as a doctor would. Do no harm!
Fred Eckert is a retired banker and U.S Army and National Guard pilot from Rochester, N.Y., and an avid fisherman.
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This is just another example of why a businessman does not belong in charge of environmental/natural resource issues. Thank Mr. Gary McAlpin of Coastal Zone for another thoroughly unwanted, poorly thought out, negative impacting environmental travesty of an idea being promoted by him (staff). When will the Commissioners wake up to what their staff has brought upon their citizens? This way of governing by giving so much leeway and power to staffers--WHOM THE PUBLIC DID NOT ELECT HAS TO STOP!!! The county staff people, especially those under Jim Mudd's wing, especially Mr. McAlpin are seemingly not accountable to anyone. He dreams up projects and "objectives" which he then promotes on his own and when that does not seem to be working--he makes sure he is in control of some new "advisory committee" which HE THEN WRITES UP "TOPICS" or "OBJECTIVES" not based on the citizen's will or-an environmentally responsible direction, but on whatever special interest HE OR JIM MUDD DEEM DESIRABLE. This is not how American government is supposed to work. They are supposed to work FOR us-the citizens---We are supposed to be directing them and giving direction for our own neighborhoods and community areas. PEOPLE SPEAK UP---TELL THE COMMISSIONERS THAT YOU WANT THE COMMISSIONERS IN CONTROL AND NOT THEIR STAFF!!!!!
#1 Posted by keepingthemhonest on August 24, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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