Residents Band Together to Preserve Honeymoon Island

One of the reasons George Nigro moved into his Royal Stewart Arms condominium was its proximity to the “natural elements of Honeymoon Island.”

On Saturday, when Nigro read in the St. Petersburg Times that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection plans to open and 55 other state parks up for , including overnight camping and RVs, he said, “panic set in," especially after "the line that said they want to make a decision in two months.”

“I thought, ‘Why is the state accelerating this? Why are they doing this the day after a holiday?’ ” he said.

Nigro, 68, said residents at , a 55-and-older community with 449 residents adjoining Honeymoon Island, knew they had to move quickly.

“We don’t need sitters at this point; we need doers,” Nigro said.

Sixty residents attended an urgent resident meeting Thursday. Mayor Dave Eggers and Commissioners Julie Scales and Ron Barnette attended.

Residents passionately voiced environmental and safety concerns: What about the nesting sea turtles? Will native artifacts be destroyed?

Meeting notes suggested that "pets, poop, partying and policing" were the biggest concerns for one resident's poll of campsite volunteers across the United States.

The group created an action committee for moving forward with a "2 Save Honeymoon Island" campaign. Nigro, retired U.S. Air Force, is the group’s chair. They are mobilizing a group to help make opposition signs for the at  on Tuesday.

“I know, factually, that our state is in a financial mess,” Nigro said. “I know we need to do something to get our financial house in order … but to blanket all 56 parks without any consideration for the uniqueness of each park?”

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, expressed “adamant opposition” to the proposal in a June 28 letter to the DEP.

“Allowing a for-profit enterprise to run a high-impact campground on such a sensitive and important environmental treasure as Honeymoon Island is a major policy change that needs more review than it has been given,” he wrote.

Fasano requested an opportunity for the Florida legislature to review DEP data supporting “the concept that opening up a limited-use area to around-the-clock camping is good for the environment and for … daytime users who don’t camp.”

DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Bob Ballard responded in a June 28 letter that the decision to proceed in an accelerated process “does not allow the Florida Park Service to do so without a thorough review.”

“This review includes conducting site assessments and analysis of each park identified to possibly have a campground, site visits and the opportunity for the public to provide input,” he wrote.

He added, “Should we proceed with expanding camping facilities, all campsites would be designed and built to Florida Park Service standards.”

Nigro suggested each park be considered individually before instituting sweeping land-use amendments that potentially damage ecosystems at smaller parks like Honeymoon.

He said a place like Honeymoon Island could benefit with less agressive changes, like extending a bicycle path and adding a bike concessionaire — a move that would add jobs and increase state revenue, while enhancing the park and being softer on the environment.

“I don’t know about the other 55 parks,” he said. “Is there a park that lends itself more to diving? Did we give any thought to the uniqueness of each park?"

Important upcoming Honeymoon Island meetings:

1. July 2: Royal Stewart Arms' 2 Save Honeymoon Island Action Committee will construct signs at 10 a.m. Saturday. All meeting notes and actions are saved in a public folder on the community's Web site.
2. July 5: for proposal and to hear comment on land management amendment for Honeymoon Island; , 330 Douglas Ave., Dunedin; 7 p.m.; arrive early for seating.
3. July 6: Public meeting for Honeymoon Island Advisory Group (no public comment) on land management amendment; Rotary Centennial Nature Center, 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.