Tower Construction Costs $700K for Caladesi Friends

Friends of the Island Parks officials said building an observation and interpretive facility on Caladesi Island is more complex and costly because of its location.

Cindy Farris is excited about plans to bring a 25-foot observation deck to Caladesi Island. Farris, president of Friends of the Island Parks, told Dunedin city leaders May 16 that the group is close to naming a contractor for the project and fundraising efforts are going strong. The proposed $700,000 Caladesi Discovery Center would provide a panoramic view and include hands-on exhibits in a planned interpretive facility on the popular barrier island. An additional $150,000 would be for educational exhibits. The expense of the project is due, in part, to the high cost of transporting materials and equipment to the remote project site, Farris said. "It's not easy to build on the barrier island," she said. The group's first major fundraising …

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Caladesi Island Tower to Feature Panoramic View, Hands-On Education

Park officials are hoping to move forward on plans to build an $600,000 to $700,000 observation deck at Caladesi Island State Park.

Designs for a 25-foot education and observation tower on Caladesi Island are complete. And state officials already approved them. Now it's just the matter of funding, Peter Krulder, park manager, says. Friends of the Island Parks is spearheading recent fundraising efforts to build the observation deck, which has a $600,000 to $700,000 price tag, Krulder says. He hopes to have it completed in 2014. Plans for the up-and-coming Caladesi Discovery Center indicate that it would be an open-air, ADA-compliant structure at the site of the old tower, which was torn down in the late 1980s, Krulder says. "It had rusted to a point that it was no longer safe for park visitors to climb," Krulder explains. The new tower would provide a panoramic view and…

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Caladesi Island Makes Trip Advisor's Best Beaches List

Caladesi Island State Park came in at No. 12 on the list of best beaches in the U.S., as determined by the users of tripadvisor.com.

Caladesi Island State Park is home to one of the best beaches in the United States, according to the users of tripadvisor.com. The Dunedin beach is among the top 25 in Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice 2013 awards, checking in at No. 12. “Nice beach to get away from the crowds," is how one user described Caladesi Island. A few other Tampa Bay area beaches also made the cut: Siesta Key Public Beach in Sarasota (No. 2), Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde (No. 4), Pass-a-Grille in St. Pete Beach (No. 15) and Clearwater Beach (No. 18). Ka'anapali Beach in Hawaii was ranked first overall. How does Caladesi Island stack up to other beaches you've visited? Share your opinion in the comments section below. Sign up for the free Dunedin Patch email …

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Honeymoon Island Closed Monday

Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park were closed because of the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac.

Honeymoon Island State Park was closed Monday due to the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac. The park will reopen as soon as weather conditions permit, officials said on the Florida state parks website. Caladesi Island State Park also remained closed Monday. All Pinellas County parks were also closed until 10 a.m. Tuesday, officials said. See Also:

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Isaac Impacts Honeymoon, Caladesi Islands

Public is warned to keep out of areas of the north beach, which is experiencing choppy waves.

Caladesi Island was closed Sunday afternoon due to the threat from Tropical Storm Isaac, while Honeymoon Island remained open but was at a medium hazard level. All boats and ferries were prepared for the impending storm, park director Peter Krulder said. Officials said they are a little concerned about Isaac's possible impact on beach erosion, but Honeymoon Island State Park will stay open to visitors for now. Damage from Tropical Storm Debby is still evident at Honeymoon Island. Parts of the parking lot and north beach are marked off with a wooden fence labeled "Dangerous Area, Keep Out."  Debby hit the island hard earlier this year, causing a significant part of the north beach to be eroded.

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5 Things to Know Today: Tuesday, July 24

How can you help Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands today? The answer is hidden within.

1) Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms all day. Otherwise, partly sunny skies, with a high near 90, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight's low is 77. 2) The lowest reported gas price in Dunedin is $3.32 (cash, regular) at two stations: St. George Gas Service and The Super Shop, 1001 Broadway, on TampaGasPrices.com. 3) If you're a young member of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, you won't want to miss the Tri-Chamber Young Professionals networking party at Lee Roy Selmon's tonight. The festivities include a cornhole contest! (Dunedin Chamber of Commerce members should have received an email invitation and should check there for details.) 4) Don't miss the last chance to register your child in the Dunedin Historical …

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Viewfinder

Viewfinder: Earth Day on the Island

Scroll through our photo album of the two-day celebration at Honeymoon Island this past weekend.

Friends of the Island Parks celebrated Dunedin's two favorite islands on April 16 and 17 with a two-day festival of earthy products and environmentally-conscious artwork. Island Earth Days festivities took place at Honeymoon and Caladesi Island state parks. It included live music, make-and-take rain barrel workshops, the Shark Bite Challenge kayak and canoe race, and a host of informational booths. Environmentally-minded items for sale included beer and wine bottles recycled into drinking glasses, organic cotton clothing and bags knitted from plastic grocery bags. Park rangers offered nature walks and exhibited their photographs of the park’s wildlife, while children could climb a rock wall (while strapped into harnesses) and try out the …

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