Lake Denton Temporary Fix Not Working Well
Lake Denton Temporary Fix Not Working Well
The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 8, 2008
It's a safe bet that Highlands County commissioners expected to make enough off scuba divers at Lake Denton to at least pay for the attendant who takes those $25 per day fees. That's not happening by a mile, and it shows the flaw in the county's strategy.
No scuba diver in his or her right mind would pay $25 to use the county's facility, if you can call it that, compared to what the nearby church camp offers for much less. The camp charges $10 per day, which includes changing rooms, lake access, fenced-in parking near the lake, picnic tables and grills, etc.
Only scuba divers are required to pay a fee to use the county's facilities, and we believe that's unfair. We don't think anyone should have to pay fees to use a public lake, unless some kind of special park with camping and other facilities are available. Lake Denton's public facilities include a portable toilet and a boat ramp.
Only three people have paid the county's fees since they were implemented. That's not surprising. In fact, the only surprise is that someone paid at all.
Part of the plan was for the county to hire someone to collect fees, which would pay that person's salary. Having someone there on the weekend also would help stop any illegal or unseemly activity that supposedly was going on there. There were reports of nudity, going to the bathroom in view of the public, sex and all kinds of activities.
The church camp has provided a place where none of that is happening. Divers like that, so they aren't being blamed for crimes real or imagined.
The county isn't done finding a solution to the Lake Denton situation. Everyone wants a safe place that can coexist with residents living around the lake. What the county should do is plan and build an adequate recreational area for citizens who want access to this gem of a lake. Then make sure adequate law enforcement patrols are provided.
Perhaps the money isn't there now, but it's a project that can be built over time, and we can start on preliminary steps right now.
The only thing that's obvious is that the temporary solution isn't a particularly good one. Let's hope the permanent solution serves everyone's needs.
