Battle of the Soccer Moms... Again. By Geniusofdespair

Everyone Should Care About Our State Park

Those damn soccer moms on Key Biscayne are at it again. We need the rest of the county to respond. I fought this fight in 2001,  I was on some Management Plan Task Force fighting against the soccer moms (and a very few dads). The people were nasty then. I assume it is the same roles with different characters.

They want ball-fields in a State Park. If you build them in one State Park it sets a precedent. Bill Baggs is a passive nature park. Lets keep it that way. E-mail your comments to Amber V. Raynsford, Park Planner, Florida DEP: amber.raynsford@dep.state.fl.us

The truth is, Key Biscayne mothers are too lazy to drive to fields proposed on Virginia Key at the former landfill there. They should be leaning on the City of Miami to cap the landfill and support the fields there not in OUR State Park.  It is not JUST their State Park to take land from for their selfish purpose. They should have saved land on the Key for ballparks instead of developing every square inch. Right now here is what can be done in Bill Baggs: fishing, hunting, camping, bicycling, hiking, nature study, swimming, boating, canoeing, horseback riding, diving, model hobbyist activities, birding, sailing, jogging, and other related outdoor activities compatible with the purposes for which the lands were acquired.

I am including a sample letter for you to reword from Tropical Audubon Society:

(My letter was much shorter, it just said: don't put the ballfields in the park with a couple of other sentences).

I am a resident of Miami Dade County and frequently recreate at Bill Baggs State Park. We consider this are to be one of the most beautiful parks in the area and has improved the quality of life of my family and friends. According to the park analysis the park saw 716,000 visitors came to Bill Baggs; $34.4 M in local impact; consistently in the top 10 for attendance and economic impact, for this reason significant changes to the park are not necessary.

With 442 acres, both upland and submerged lands, Bill Baggs State Park has been a critical migratory stop for songbirds, has the highest density of nesting sea turtles in Miami-Dade County, and is the potential relocation site for the Miami Blue Butterfly. The park is home to fifteen imperiled plant species, thirty imperiled vertebrate species, four imperiled marine reptile or mammal species, and ten imperiled invertebrates.

At a recent public meeting a 10 year old proposal resurfaced for ball fields. In my opinion this would be inconsistent with the conservation and protection of public lands and does not promote the intended purpose for the state’s acquisition of the land.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is intended for resource based public outdoor recreation and conservation. Pursuant to Florida law, lands acquired through the Land Acquisition Trust Fund are intended “[t]o provide areas, including recreational trails, for natural resource based recreation and other outdoor recreation on any part of any site compatible with conservation purposes.” Fla. Stat. § 259.032 (3) (g) (2009). Florida law goes on to indicate that lands under this category shall be “[m]anaged for public outdoor recreation which is compatible with the conservation and protection of public lands. Such management may include, but not be limited to, the following public recreational uses: fishing, hunting, camping, bicycling, hiking, nature study, swimming, boating, canoeing, horseback riding, diving, model hobbyist activities, birding, sailing, jogging, and other related outdoor activities compatible with the purposes for which the lands were acquired.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 259.032 (9) (b) (2009). Per the approved management plan in effect, “[t]he conversion of portions of the park to developed facilities such as ball fields would significantly detract from its value to wildlife and park visitors. The Division will continue its opposition to suggestions that user based recreation facilities should be located at the park.”

Bill Baggs Cape Fla. State Park Unit Mgmt.Plan,(March15,2001), http://www.dep.state.fl.us/ parks/planning/parkplans/BillBaggsCapeFloridaStatePark.pdf.

A ball field would encroach on the natural areas within the park that are vital to a large number of native species. Since the acquisition of the lands, substantial resources have been devoted to the restoration of the park’s natural areas. Due to the lack of natural habitat available in Miami- Dade County, the natural areas prove to be crucial to the existence of native wildlife. I feel this resource is just as critical to childhood development then a ball field for recreation. As Richard Louv suggested in his book “Last Child in the Woods”, Nature Deficit disorder is a problem in large cities like Miami, and for that reason we should continue to protect and enhance this park for future generations.