FL: Another Federal Land Grab
- HP Williams State Park
By John Martin 07.07.01

Collier County, Florida - 7/7/01 - A small corner of land in Collier County, Florida, has become a prime example of how the National Park Service (NPS) wants to manage their property in that part of America. This State Park was dedicated by the Florida State Legislatures in 1966. It is not big by any park standards. At most it is an acre of land located on the north side of U. S. 41, Tamiami Trail (Tampa-Miami Road). At least a quarter mile of the park has a county/state road through it. This dirt road travels north from US 41 into the Bear Island Unit of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Along the eastern side of the park is the borrow canal used to create the roadbed and dry ground for the State Park. There are picnic tables and trees to create shade.

The State of Florida gave this small park to the County of Collier where the park property is located in. Why this was done no one really knows. But, many speculate it was because the size of the park and the State did not want to have to maintain such a small piece of land in this far off place.

It was not long before the County was talked into giving this state park to the National Park Service. Again it is speculated that the NPS promised to maintain the land and allow public use. As expected those involved in the transfer did not imagine what would happen next.

Within a year of the NPS getting ownership of the land they closed fresh water fishing to the public. Looking into this matter one finds that the reason for this closure action is that the NPS biologist observed fishermen/women feeding the alligators. Instead of enforcing the no feeding of alligators, which is both a state and federal regulation, the Superintendent decided the proper course of action would be to stop fishing on his land and waters. The important resource aspects of this small park is that it is the only place in the entire 700,000 acre Big Cypress National Preserve where the public can take their children to fish, sit on picnic benches and be in the shade. The shade being the most important part of the equation as in sub-tropical south Florida the sun and humidity are extremely brutal.


H.P. Williams State Park - NPS owned - NO FISHING!

The importance of this action is that the NPS would rather deny public consumptive recreational activity instead of enforcing the law. Further they have taken no action to stop the non-consumptive park visitor from using the location, even though, the public has observed them also feeding these alligators. Why is this? The NPS is not going to take any action that would stop their press to develop a very large eco-tourist industry in the Big Cypress National Preserve even though Secretary Nathaniel Reed told Congress during the creation of this NPS unit that such action would not occur. Further, by developing this large eco-tourist business they have cause to stop hunting, fishing and access to the interior by ORVs.

Their ownership of this small piece of property is the cornerstone for their gaining ownership and control over all county/state roads within the boundary of the Preserve. Superintendent Donahue has requested that these dirt roads be turned over to him. One of the reasons being that he owns the first quarter mile of Turner River Road. Once the NPS gains ownership of these dirt roads we all know what is next - gating and closure to unimpeded public use. In other words the free access to public lands will be denied and we will have to ride on NPS vendor buses or the like. Furthering their desire to develop eco-tourism and stop the 'traditional' uses of the Preserve.

Never allow any city, county or state lands to be transferred to the National Park Service or any agency of the Federal Government because they will move in one direction to manage --- closure.

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