Changes May Be Coming To Spring Creek Park In Jackson County
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Posted: 11:08 AM Mar 16, 2010
Changes May Be Coming To Spring Creek Park In Jackson County
Jackson County officials are hoping to make some big changes to one of their parks. Spring Creek Park currently prohibits any disposable containers on the premises but the county ordinance is not regularly enforced. County officials are hoping to get public feedback on whether a new recycling program or an admission fee may help solve the problem.
Reporter: Vanessa Nguyen
Email Address: vanessa.nguyen@wjhg.com

Spring Creek
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Jackson County officials are hoping to make some big changes to one of their parks.
Spring Creek Park currently prohibits any disposable containers on the premises but the county ordinance is not regularly enforced.
County officials are hoping to get public feedback on whether a new recycling program or an admission fee may help solve the problem.
That's not the only issue, danger is also a concern after 30 tubers were stranded by the creek's high water levels about a year ago.

Spring Creek Park isn't filled with visitors yet.
But Jackson County Parks and Recycling Director Chuck Hatcher says they will be coming soon.
"We're trying to become a little bit more organized with people coming to the park. We will start getting the Spring Break crowd from Tallahassee and coming tubing and canoeing down our beautiful Spring Creek."
But the creek, which feeds into the Chipola River, can also be dangerous.
A group of 30 tubers became scattered and stranded by the high water levels along the creek back in mid-April of last year.
Many had to cling to trees or logs until they could be rescued.
The incident raised some safety concerns about being on the Chipola River.
"We would like to have management there to better facilitate the litter problem and the safety problem."
No one currently monitors who goes in and out of Spring Creek.
But safety is not the only concern, the county's beverage ordinance, which prohibits all disposable containers on the premises is also raising eyebrows.
"Water bottles are prohibited, Pepsis', Cokes, Gatorade, beer at the same time."
Hatcher is hoping they may be able to revise the ordinance by starting a recycling program.
"We would give somebody a bag once they start down the river. Once they emptied a particular container, we'd ask them to place it in the recycling bag immediately and once they get to the destination, they would simply put it in our container bin that we would have at the boat ramp where they would get out."
The county is also looking at charging an admission fee...
"...either entering the park or putting tubes or canoes in the park."
And closing down the park altogether when conditions are unsafe.
Hatcher is planning to hold a public meeting and get feedback from the community.
He says their goal is not to discourage people from visiting the parks, but to take necessary precautions.
"We'd rather be user friendly, we want people to come to Jackson County and enjoy what we have. At the same time, be very mindful and protect what we have because it is a natural beauty, Spring Creek and the Chipola River."
Hatcher is hoping to have something in place before April.
But the final decision regarding any changes to the park will be up to the County Commission.

The public meeting will begin at 7pm Tuesday night at the Citizen's Lodge.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Betsy Knight Location: Altha, Florida on Mar 16, 2010 at 09:27 AM

I am a Calhoun County resident who loves Spring Creek and the Chipola River. I was thrilled to see the ordinance where there are no beverage bottles or cans allowed from Spring Creek. It really helped regulate trash going into the river. I think that a recycling project might help--I always take a garbage bag to help pick up trash when I paddle downstream. I believe a warning system such as the beaches use (flags) should be used to caution tubers. Bear Paw used to refuse to allow folks to go downstream from their landing if the water was dangerous. If you can't have someone stationed to advise tubers not to go down I think that would work. I am very opposed to a fee as that would affect those from Calhoun who also enjoy the river and creek. Our Sheriff's Department regularly takes prisoners out to clean up our part of the river and you might try that. Respectfully, Betsy R. Knight bbws1@gtcom.net 762-8685