July 2016 Keynotes
Key Notes
News from the Peridido Key Association
Here is the July 2016 edition of our expanded PKA Key Notes.
Perdido Key Issues
The National Park Service (NPS) hosted an Open House at the Perdido Key Visitors Center on June 28, 2016 and briefed those attending on alternatives for improving visitor safety and wildlife habitat at the Perdido Key Area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore (Johnson Beach). A significant problem has been visitors parking on the roadside but then crossing dunes and the habitat of protected species such as the Perdido Key beach mouse and various nesting birds.
The NPS preferred alternative would replace roadside parking with three new parking areas with upgraded dune crossovers; repave the road and add a second entrance lane; add parking areas and dune crossovers to the main parking area; restrict access on the last half mile to pedestrian and bicycle traffic; and, continue to allow primitive camping beginninga half mile beyond the road terminus. More information on the proposals is available at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov.
Comments can be submitted over the next few weeks online (add /GUIS to the website) or mail to: Superintendent; Subject: Perdido Key Project Gulf Islands National Seashore;1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563.
At its June 16, 2016 Public Hearing, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners denied the “Petition to Vacate a Portion of the Siguenza Cove Plat, a subdivision recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 12, as petitioned by Perdido Key Oyster Bar, Restaurant & Marina, LLC, and GilbreathPetz Development, LLC.”
“The Petitioners” intent was to “use the lots as overflow parking to keep customers from parking in the right-of-way of the public streets.” A substantial number of area residents attended the hearing with many opposed to the petition.
June 8 is recognized by the United Nations as World Oceans Day and a time to celebrate the importance of the oceans and consider action to reduce pollution and other activities affecting their wellbeing. The event was commemorated locally with a beach cleanup and barbecue cosponsored by Perdido Key State Park and the Friends of Pensacola State Parks. More information on World Oceans Day is available at
www.worldoceansday.org.
PKA will be sending out its periodic request for new membersin the near future. If youhave not renewed your membership for 2016, please do so soon; and, if you value what PKA can do for the Perdido Key community -including providing information aboutinitiatives such as the Master Plan and multi-use Path, please ask your friends and neighbors to join our organization.
The time and day of PKA Board Meetings has been changed. The Board now meets at 6:00 PM on the 2nd Monday of each month; asbefore, the meetings will be at the Seafarer Condominium.
The next PKA cleanup of Rt. 98 from Trout Road to Dog Track Road is planned for Saturday, July 23, 2016. More volunteers are always welcome.
Have a wonderful Fourth of July Weekend!
July Calendar
July 1-3, 9-13, 20-23, and 31: Blue Wahoos at home, Pensacola Bayfront Stadium
