Letter from Walter Sims to Gary I. Sharp (March 18, 1975)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Walter Sims to Gary I. Sharp (March 18, 1975)
Alternative Title
Letter from Sims to Sharp (March 18, 1975)
Subject
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Environmental protection--Florida
Parks--Florida
Springs--Florida
Description
A letter from Senator Walter Sims to Gary I. Sharp, dated March 18, 1975. In this letter, Sen. Sims writes to express personal support for Sharp's proposal that the Gourd Neck Springs area of Lake Apopka be used as a public park. Sen. Sims states that the plan would aid in restoration efforts for the lake. He also states that he feels the park would be acquired through private means, rather than public funds, and then potentially donated to the state.
Gourd Neck Springs is a small spring located in the southwest portion of Lake Apopka, in a small cove called “Gourd Neck” due to its distinctive shape. This area of the lake was considered in the 1960s as a potential nursery for fish. The Lake Apopka Technical Committee explored damming the Gourd Neck, separating it from the lake and preventing polluted lake water from entering, but these plans did not materialize. Efforts were also made in the 1960s to have the Gourd Neck area purchased by the State of Florida for use as a public park. The Gourd Neck Springs Park Association was formed in 1961 to study the site’s potential for a park and lobby for support from legislators. The land bordering the area was privately-owned by various individuals. One of these, Gary I. Sharp, continued seeking support for a park into the 1970s. While the project received support from Florida legislators and environmentalists, the land was never purchased by the state.
Gourd Neck Springs is a small spring located in the southwest portion of Lake Apopka, in a small cove called “Gourd Neck” due to its distinctive shape. This area of the lake was considered in the 1960s as a potential nursery for fish. The Lake Apopka Technical Committee explored damming the Gourd Neck, separating it from the lake and preventing polluted lake water from entering, but these plans did not materialize. Efforts were also made in the 1960s to have the Gourd Neck area purchased by the State of Florida for use as a public park. The Gourd Neck Springs Park Association was formed in 1961 to study the site’s potential for a park and lobby for support from legislators. The land bordering the area was privately-owned by various individuals. One of these, Gary I. Sharp, continued seeking support for a park into the 1970s. While the project received support from Florida legislators and environmentalists, the land was never purchased by the state.
Creator
Sims, Walter
Source
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from Walter Sims to Gary I. Sharp, March 18, 1975: binder 1975, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Date Created
1975-03-18
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of photocopied 1-page typewritten letter from Walter Sims to Gary I. Sharp, March 18, 1975.
Is Part Of
Binder 1975, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Friends of Lake Apopka Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
134 KB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter on Florida Senate letterhead
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Gourd Neck Springs, Florida
Lake Apopka, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Walter Sims.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by the Friends of Lake Apopka and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
King, Joshua
Digital Collection
Source Repository
External Reference
"Apopka Spring." Lake County Water Atlas. Accessed June 08, 2016. http://www.lake.wateratlas.usf.edu/resource.aspx?wbodyid=8500.
Campbell, Ramsey. "Source of Surprise: Crystal Clear Water from Lake Apopka." The Orlando Sentinel, April 23, 1995. Accessed June 8, 2016. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-04-23/news/9504220188_1_lake-apopka-spring-water-bottled-water.
"Letter from Arthur W. Sinclair to C. W. Sheffield (December 22, 1967)." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/6858.
"House of Representatives 1967-2001." House of Representatives. Accessed July 13, 2016. http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html.
"Florida Senators 1845-2001." Florida Senators. Accessed July 13, 2016. http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/Senate18452001.html.
Collection
Citation
Sims, Walter, “Letter from Walter Sims to Gary I. Sharp (March 18, 1975),” RICHES, accessed May 20, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/7835.