Tag: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

New plan for Gasparilla Island State Park includes new seawall and entrance road

Draft plans released for comment for all local Florida State Parks The state of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Park Planning on Friday, March 6...

Florida DEP plans public meetings on area state parks

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting Tuesday, April 7, from 2 to 6 p.m. to gather input on the updated management plan for Gasparilla Island State Park. No...

Nature calls, but Sea Grape bathroom isn’t answering yet

Construction is still underway on the restroom facilities at the Sea Grape parking area of Gasparilla Island State Park and on track to be completed in 2026. Sea Grape is a public beach area...

Charlotte County adds to beach funds at Tuesday meeting

December 11, 2025
Staff Report
News, Sports & Outdoors

Charlotte County approved an amendment to an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the renourishment of Manasota Key beaches. Amendment 3 will increase FDEP’s share...

Relief on horizon: Sea Grape bathroom build

While construction has not commenced on the Sea Grape bathroom at Gasparilla Island State Park, there is progress. The bathroom area will be to the north end of the Sea Grape parking area at the...

Resilient Florida seeks speakers

The Resilient Florida Program invites prospective speakers to present on flood resilience topics at the upcoming Quarterly Resilience Forum, scheduled for Aug. 6, 2025. The forum provides an...

Beach parking may change renourishment funding

BY MARCY SHORTUSE Gasparilla Island is scheduled for a Lee County and federal beach renourishment this fall. It is unclear, however, how much a potential change in parking or public access for...

State Beach renourishment begins this week

Florida’s beach sand replenishment project for the south end of Gasparilla Island at Gasparilla Island State Park has begun. Last summer, the state solicited bids for the renourishment of the...

State: Cabinet approves agricultural acreage for critical land conservation

December 19, 2024
Staff Report
News, Sports & Outdoors

This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved significant investments to protect Florida’s natural resources and agricultural lands. Through the Florida Forever Program, $111...

Fish farm in federal waters off of Englewood would be first in Gulf

In the midst of worries about red tide and multiple hurricanes, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reopened public comment on a proposed fish farm in federal waters off the Englewood’s...