Topsail new pads

[rr2254545]

As I sit here they are tearing out the bad concrete on 10-12 sites in the 100 series of sites. They are already replaced about the same number of sites on the other side of the park.

Do to budget constraints they are putting in "P" gravel in its place

[jplante4]

Sorry, I didn't get any pix of the new sites, but I did watch the process which I can describe.

After removing the old concrete and tar approaches, they hacked out all the roots under the sites. In a couple of the pull-through sites, they took trees down that were close, in another they left the tree and dog-legged the site around it. We'll see how that works.

The holes left after excavation were universally filled with water. They framed out the site using 6X6 PT timber, lap jointed and wooden pegged. I'm not sure how or even if they attached the framing to the ground.

Then they brought in some washed sand, but not beach sand. It was more course and it packed down quite a bit with compacters. The little Bobcat that they were using got quite the workout. The final grade of the sand was 3" below the framing.

Topped off with compacted pea stone, I believe it was 3/8. I saw a few of the new sites with motor homes and there were no ruts where the wheels went. As I mentioned, the drainage was excellent.

[wbwood]

jplante4 wrote:

wbwood wrote:
Any pictures?

This is the only one I have that shows the site. It's site 33



This is the boardwalk down to the beach. It's about a mile walk, but they have a tram that runs 5 times a day..

Thanks, we've been there a couple times before, but was looking for pictures of the sites with pea gravel. Wondering what they look like. I imagine they will be more like the other 2 nearby state parks.

[mikestock]

Have a week there March 24 in site 139. Hope that one is done by then.

I am glad they are giving up on the concrete. Considering the weight they have to support and the sand foundation it would take a lot of pile driving and a lot of steel rebars to make them stand up over time. We were in one so bad, (I think 77) a couple of years ago that we had to use wheel blocking to raise the front wheels so that the jacks didn't lift them off the ground.

[jplante4]

wbwood wrote:
Any pictures?

This is the only one I have that shows the site. It's site 33



This is the boardwalk down to the beach. It's about a mile walk, but they have a tram that runs 5 times a day..

[wbwood]

Any pictures?

[jplante4]

ekirkland wrote:
How about 132 and 168; will be camping in those in March?

Well, the only pads they were working on in the Palm Circle were in the 107-115 area. They are doing a lot of work, and the demolition is done for now, so who knows in March. I don't know if they were using jack hammers or just a Bobcat to bust up the old sites. Best to call ahead and see where the noise will be.

[ekirkland]

How about 132 and 168; will be camping in those in March?

[jplante4]

Work continues on this conversion. Some of the concrete pads sites are in tough shape. FWIW, we had a pretty good rain storm while we were there this week and the only sites that didn't have standing water were the new P-gravel sites. They were working on a couple of the sites in the back circle, but I don't think 112 was one of them.

[3oaks]

fla-gypsy wrote:
Compared to other state parks around the country Florida has some of the best. Some folks will never be satisfied.

I never found a state park I didn't like. However, some state parks are better than others. 🙂

By the way, Florida does not have a monopoly on some of the "best state parks". 😉

[rr2254545]

is it friday yet? wrote:
Pea gravel is fine with me. We'll be there for the first time the end of March. We're used to grass/dirt. How does site # 112 look? Pea gravel yet?

Not yet they are working on the other side of the street 107 109 etc

[is_it_friday_ye]

Pea gravel is fine with me. We'll be there for the first time the end of March. We're used to grass/dirt. How does site # 112 look? Pea gravel yet?

[fla-gypsy]

Compared to other state parks around the country Florida has some of the best. Some folks will never be satisfied.

[DAVES04RV]

Glad to hear they are refurbishing more of the 100's now. The tree roots have played havoc with the old concrete slab pads when heavy trailers park on them. Unless they cut down the trees the gravel and timber lined method will be best option. Hopefully they will also repave the washed out graveled roads in the 100's also.