Two Apalachicola Waterfront Sites to be Dedicated

            Two important Apalachicola waterfront sites will have their day in the sun Thursday afternoon.

            First, the county will host a ceremony and launch of the first oyster boat at the new Franklin County Seafood Landing Park at Two Mile in Apalachicola at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson will be guest speaker for that event.

            Then, at 4 p.m., the city, along with the engineering firm Baskerville-Donovan Inc., will host a ribbon cutting and ice cream social at the Lafayette Park Pier, new and improved after it was destroyed in Hurricane Dennis in July 2005.

            The waterfront park was purchased by the county earlier this year, with extensive support from local Tourist Development Council funds. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provided $150,000 through a federal grant for the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners to construct a new boat ramp on the property, expected to be an important public access point for commercial fishermen and recreational fishermen to western Apalachicola Bay.

            "We believe that this is an excellent opportunity for partnership between Franklin County, the Apalachicola Bay Oyster/Seafood Task Force, the Tourist Development Council, the local fishing community and our department," Bronson said.  "This park will benefit the entire community."

            Over the last two years the task force identified waterfront access as a primary issue of concern for local commercial fishermen and the general public. The project became a reality with support from the Franklin County Seafood Workers Association, the Apalachicola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve.

            Additional improvements to recreational facilities at the park will be made with help from a legislative appropriation secured by Rep. Will Kendrick (R-Carrabelle). The Landing Park will be managed by the Franklin County Department of Parks and Recreation.

            Local elected officials, seafood workers and dealers, and Miss Florida Seafood 2008 are expected to attend the event, which is open to the public.

            Construction of the new boat ramp in the park began in early August and has been completed in time for the winter oyster harvesting season, which begins Sept. 1.

            For more information contact Kevin Begos, executive director, Oyster & Seafood Task Force 653-3351