Might be a Rant or could be an Idea -- not sure

[bodyshop_bob]

DW and I just got back from St. Andrew in PCB and drove over and checked out Grayton Beach. We've done St. George, Anastasia, Henderson Beach and (OMG)Faver-Dykes. Florida State Parks are better than most other State Parks but that doesn't make them a Peach, either. So here's my sorta Rant:
Most SP campgrounds are getting rundown due to lack of maintenance and overuse. There is only X amount of dollars available for the entire maintenance budget per Park and its got to be doled out according to greatest use and need. There are more Day-use folks than RV'ers so areas with heavy Day-use need and deserve more upkeep. I get that. However, when RV'ers spend money locally those dollars have a greater impact because we use and require far less services. A citizen living in PCB pays more in property tax and sales tax dollars than I do during my 2 week stay but I don't use services like schools, Police, etc. So, my local investment is significantly greater than the Average Joe Six Pack that lives there. That's why Tourism dollars are so desirable.
So - the CG gets run down because RV'ers aren't represented enough in total visits; but my contribution to the PCB economy is greater than the average citizen.
Why aren't companies that receive a greater share of the Tourism dollar (restuarants, boat rental, fishing charter, RV repair) working with the local State Parks to update, improve and modernize the Campgrounds? When you think of the Infrastructure impact a 10 story Condo creates versus a 100 site Campground the real value of our Dollars versus the hotel/condo Dollars is extreme. Yes, the hotel/condo crowd is much, much larger than the RV crowd but it costs the city more to handle the Condo'ers.
I think a "Friends of Saint Andrew" organization made up from the businesses we frequent would be a great investment in insuring I contine to visit the PCB area.
Just a thought........

[PA12DRVR]

JJBIRISH wrote:
What would really make a difference is if all campers learned to clean up after themselves, learned to limit the impact of their stay on their site and the park, and to leave the site better than it was on arrival…

Boy, isn't that the truth!

To chime in on another part of the thread, I'm a strong supporter of Friends of Parks sort of thing. While now I'm limited to the PA-12 for RV, when we were more active, we routinely contributed to Friends of PSJ/TH Stone Memorial State Park in Florida. I can't document that the money went directly to the Park, but I got a nice thank you letter every so often and I felt comfortable enough to donate a fair amount.

Same thing with Eagle River up here in AK. Regular donations help...and probably even the entire group of RV.net would only make a minimal impact on tax structures of counties and municipalities, but regular specific donations would make a real impact.

[wa8yxm]

There is an error in your calculations by the way.. I will explain it, I will also state this does vary from state to state and county to county.. But ask yourself this....

Why is a gallon of gas, NORTH of 8 mile near Detroit, often 10 cents more than the same gallon, down on 7 mile? Answer: Higher taxes.

Now... You say you do not pay more taxes than the local citizens.. in fact, in many cases you pay MORE.. here is why.

Many states have adopted a tax plan that I call "Soak the businessman" To be honest, I fully understand why.. I mean as a citizen I get a vote, but as a company, The campground where I am currently parked does not (As a citizen the owners get TWO votes, His and Hers but that is all) So consider the vast number of citizens who do not own businesses.. If a politician argues for higher taxes on THE PEOPLE, he is not long for office,, But tax the business man, oh how we love to vote those folks in.. COMPLETLY FORGETTING THAT IN ORDER TO PAY THAT TAX HE (The businessman) WILL RAISE HIS PRICES.

In short: You paid part of the park's property tax when you rented the site.

[restlesswind]

monkey44 wrote:

Dave H M wrote:
The real gem down there is the Fam Camp at Tyndal AFB, just across the bridge to the east of "PCB."

Except that's military only park, and most campers can't use it. It's also funded an entirely different way.

Family Camps are great, but don't allow the public, and we need to keep it that way.

Agree

[monkey44]

Dave H M wrote:
The real gem down there is the Fam Camp at Tyndal AFB, just across the bridge to the east of "PCB."

Except that's military only park, and most campers can't use it. It's also funded an entirely different way.

Family Camps are great, but don't allow the public, and we need to keep it that way.

[Dave_H_M]

The real gem down there is the Fam Camp at Tyndal AFB, just across the bridge to the east of "PCB."

[lizzie]

Thanks for the question DougE. It is run about like any other governmental agency. Each park manager submits an annual budget request and waits to see what he/she gets. The general operating fund covers the basics; salaries (very low), maintenance, supplies, etc. New construction, special projects and even renovation of old and tired facilities require additional funding that the managers have to justify and fight for. Input from the park users is crucial in getting attention directed to needs. Parks with good reviews and positive user feedback definitely benefit. I don't feel that volunteer activity cuts back on allocations at all. I think the interest shown by user groups makes the powers-that-be more likely to add to a park's budget. An example, some of us raised money last year to get a pavilion screened at "our" park. Since the park is in a very buggy area, the screened pavilion was very popular and raised both visitation (e.g. more people came because they had a nice place to get away from the bugs) and money (rental on the pavilion costs more). Positive feedback on this new resource has resulted in a budget item to screen more pavilions. lizzie

[DougE]

lizzie- does the park get more money that way? I'm cynical. As far as I know the money people might say "We got $20 designated for park A and since we were going to give them $100, now we only have to give them $80 to reach budget.

[kcmoedoe]

In most tourist areas, tourists are considered a necessary evil. Yes, the area depends on them, but they sure do wear the locals down. Long waits for restaurants, traffic jams, steady stream of people asking the same questions over and over and over. Don't forget, you might be on vacation or retired, but the locals are mostly just trying to earn a living. It isn't as fun for them as it is for you. You see a nice clean restroom and shower house, the workers see yet another day of cleaning up after other people.

[lizzie]

Thank you for expressing your concerns about Florida State Parks. It is a valid issue. Friends of Florida State Parks is an umbrella organization but you can specify that your donations go to a particular park. Many of the parks do have "Friends" groups (I am the president of one)who try to assist the park staff in getting needed resources. The parks are expected to be self-supporting and some are. If you see a need that you can address, let the park manager know. There are many ways to volunteer other than camp hosting. An excellent way to help the parks is to fill out the visitor survey forms. lizzie

[ol_Bombero-JC]

fj12ryder wrote:


What's PCB?

PCB = Polychlorinated Biphenyl

Toxic stuff.
Something to avoid.
Still (may be) found in electrical transformers.

~

OP -
IDEA = you're preaching to the choir.
Make your pitch to a state/county/city legislative body during public comments - or contribute to a newspaper editorial page.
(IMO - same effectiveness as here, LOL!)

RANT = OK! Join the unhappy (with whatever) crowd...:R

~

[JJBIRISH]

What would really make a difference is if all campers learned to clean up after themselves, learned to limit the impact of their stay on their site and the park, and to leave the site better than it was on arrival…

[JJBIRISH]

restlesswind wrote:
What you suggest can be done.

http://archive.azcentral.com/travel/articles/2011/10/31/20111031volunteers-preserve-past-arizona-state-parks.html

(Maybe someone can make a clicky for this article)

clicky

[Bill___Kate]

Friends of Florida State Parks

[restlesswind]

What you suggest can be done.

http://archive.azcentral.com/travel/articles/2011/10/31/20111031volunteers-preserve-past-arizona-state-parks.html

(Maybe someone can make a clicky for this article)