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Park entry, boat ramp fees take effect Sunday

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2009

LITHIA - Required entry fees replaced optional, suggested donations Sunday at Hillsborough County's regional parks.

For the first time, visitors to parks including Alderman's Ford in Lithia and Edward Medard Park and Reservoir, east of Brandon off Turkey Creek Road, will be charged an entry fee of $2 per vehicle. A $5 boat launch fee also goes into effect Sunday.

Aside from Alderman's Ford and Medard, the county's regional parks include E.G. Simmons, Eureka Springs, Lake Park, Lake Rogers, Lettuce Lake, Lithia Springs, Upper Tampa Bay and a number of Wilderness Park sites.

An annual pass valid at any regional park for one year from the date of purchase is available for $100 per family or $50 for individuals. An annual boat ramp pass costs $100.

The fees were implemented to avoid closing the parks two days a week, a cost-cutting measure recently reviewed by the county commission. The commission took public comment about the proposed closures into consideration in September and approved the fee structure instead of shutting the gates twice a week.

For more information or to purchase a pass, call (813) 635-3500, or go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks.

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