These are the occasional reports I posted to update the progress on saving the gardens. These items have not been updated since the city purchased Sunken Gardens.
I'm never content to just tell you what's happening. I also spent a lot of time telling everyone what should happen. If you care about my rants, you can check this out. I may update this from time to time.
December 12, 1999
Sunken Gardens REOPENED THIS WEEKEND! This Saturday and Sunday were free, as will be next weekend. After January 1, the Gardens will be open Wed-Sun, and admission will be $4 for adults, $1 for children.
I'm sorry I didn't get this posted sooner - I know a lot of people have visited my page recently. I did not hear that the Gardens were open until the news last night. I was able to visit today and, I must say, I am VERY impressed with the improvements that have been made. So many more flowers than before, pathways have been repaired, ponds cleaned, waterfalls functioning, new fences, signs, exhibits, etc. There are still a few areas that have not been finished yet, but overall, the beauty of 20 years ago has returned! I definitely recommend you stop by next weekend if you get a chance.
The parking lot was so crowded today, I had to park at Crescent Lake, about 3 blocks away from the entrance. What great attendance!
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September 9, 1999
On September 1, ownership of Sunken Gardens changed hands from the Turner family to the city of St. Petersburg. The final selling price was around 2.27 Million.
The city is still finalizing its plans for the gardens, but here is the good news: it is very likely that millions will be pumped into restoring the gardens and its historical buildings. A major restaurant chain is interested in moving in, with a tropical theme. It is likely there will be a historical museum, somewhere in the development, which will show everyone the important historical and tourism contributions of the Gardens and the Turner family. Great Explorations Children's Museum may be located in the main building.
Best of all, everything should be more affordable than ever before, so everyone can appreciate the Gardens. The wheels are in motion now, and good things should start happening soon.
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August 11, 1999
Haven't heard a lot lately. I do know that there will be another task force meeting on August 16th, at St. Pete's city hall (most likely, room 100). I didn't get to attend the last meeting, but my friend Frank Cole has kept me up to date, and says there are a lot of proposals on the table. Many of these proposals DO NOT focus on the historical roots of the Gardens.
We need people ot attend this meeting who are interested in preserving the gardens as a natural attraction, simple and serene, and preserving the historical roots as a roadside attraction that made it famous for the past 90 years. I would never say that other attractions and uses cannot be added, but the improvements to be made should not take away from what the garden is, or has been. Just my opinion, but if you agree, you should stop by this meeting on Monday, the 16th.
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July 18, 1999
Good news. The Turner family has agreed to pay for the environmental cleanup on the Gardens, so that the deal can proceed. The cleanup is expected to cost about $50,000. The environmental clause appears to be the only snag which could have held up the deal. Here's the full story.
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June 18, 1999
St. Petersburg City Council voted 6-2 yesterday to purchase Sunken Gardens. The deal is set to close on September 1. The city reserves the right, however, to not close the deal if significant environmental problems are found on the property. Get the full story here.
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June 14, 1999
Yesterday, Sunken Gardens closed. I heard that over 600 people visited the gardens on its final day, and it wasn't free - the visitors paid full price. Many people simply wanted to visit one more time, in case it was their last chance.
From what I've heard, the animals will be sold, or given away. The Turner family will maintain the plant life in the gardens for as long as they can - hopefully until the city makes an offer. Once the sprinklers are turned off, some things will die, others will grow wild. By this winter, freezing temperatures will kill a great deal of the rare vegitation if there's no money to fire the heaters.
As it stands now, the city has held a vote, where the public said, "Raise our taxes, and buy the Gardens!" The city has done appraisals, surveys, etc., but against the will of the citizens of St. Petersburg, has delayed a vote to purchase the property. The city council is scheduled to vote this Thursday, May 17th, at a meeting starting at 2 p.m.
We MUST convince the city council to vote FOR purchasing Sunken Gardens. This may very well be the last chance we get to save the Gardens. Click HERE for E-Mail addresses and other ideas how you can help!
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June 5, 1999
Sunken Gardens will close June 13th. The Turners have said they simply do not have the resources to continue running the attraction while the city drags its feet.
CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL NOW! LET THEM KNOW YOU WANT ACTION NOW! CONTACT THE MAYOR NOW! LET HIM KNOW YOU WANT ACTION IMMEDIATELY!
Here's the deal, folks. If the gardens close, and no one is there to maintain it on a daily basis, plants will begin to die, weeds will take over, and in a matter of weeks or months, a piece of Florida's history will be a weed pit. TAKE ACTION NOW!
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May 20, 1999
There hasn't been much news lately, but I will tie up some loose ends here.
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March 27, 1999
In order to complete what we've started, we must now convince St. Pete to approve a plan to purchase and manage Sunken Gardens. Here's a few things you can do to make a difference:
Also, I changed the question in the Quizlet popup window. To vote, just look for the quizlet to pop up, and click on your selection. To view the results of the last survey, click here.
March 23, 1999
The results are in - St. Pete voted YES on a referendum to impose a one time property tax, which will provide the city with the money necessary to purchase Sunken Gardens! The city council will now (hopefully) approve a plan to purchase the Gardens, restore them, and convert them into a zoo or rainforest-type park.
THANK YOU to all who voted and supported this referendum. There's still more work to be done, but we've crossed an important hurdle. I'll have more details soon.
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March 19, 1999
Important stuff is happening this weekend! Sunday, there will be a rally at Sunken Gardens, and admission to the park will be FREE! Same thing on Monday, after 5 p.m. This is a great chance to see the Gardens and understand what we are trying to save. Free admission may be restricted to St. Petersburg residents only.
I have received reports that bumper stickers and signs are available, but the supply is running low. A good problem to have - that means a lot of people are supporting the effort!
Most importantly - remember to VOTE for the preservation of Sunken Gardens, if you live in St. Petersburg. The vote will be held next Tuesday, March 23. Turnout will likely be low, since this isn't a major election. So your vote will make a difference!
I haven't been able to attend any of the preservation meetings, due to my work and school schedule. I did get this message from Frank Cole, who's been keeping me up to date.
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February 14, 1999
There is a Save the Gardens group forming to support the levy vote. They will meet every Thursday from now until the vote is held. For information, call Lane Lastinger at 822-8509.
February 13, 1999
No official news today, but I did visit the Gardens, and was pleased to find that the owners are supporting the Lowry Park plan, mentioned below. I don't know whether the plan will pass, but I'm hopeful. The North Shore Neighborhood Association will likely support the tax levy necessary to purchase the Gardens, and may invest some money in promoting the idea.
If the neighborhood is happy, and the owners are happy, then I'm happy. I support this plan, and urge St. Petersburg residents to VOTE on March 23 for the tax increase. NSNA estimates the tax increase would only be about $25 per year, if your property is worth $100,000. Of course, it's easy for me to tell you to vote for this, since I don't live in St. Pete. But I do believe that this is a reasonable price to pay for saving an important historical landmark.
If you don't live in St. Petersburg, it'd still be a good idea to call or write the St. Pete City Council. Let them know that Sunken Gardens is important to you. Urge them to accept the Lowry Park plan, or a similar plan to restore and improve the Gardens. You can contact St. Petersburg's City Council at P.O. Box 2842, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Or, Fax them at (727) 892-5360.
Also of note: while visiting the gardens today, I noticed a number of areas freshly mulched, as well as park benches painted. It looks like some general maintenance is being performed. Thanks to some overgrown areas being trimmed back, I was able to see several things I've never seen before.
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February 3, 1999
Lowry Park Zoo has expressed an interest in managing Sunken Gardens, provided that the city purchase the Gardens, and provide some funds for initial improvements. The St. Pete Times has the full story.
I think this plan has good potential, from the limited amount of information I've received so far. Lowry Park in Tampa has done a great job at renovating the old zoo. Of course, this is a long shot, considering the residents of St. Petersburg will have to approve a property tax on themselves in order to raise the necessary funds. If that tax, which should be on the ballot March 23, 1999, were to pass, I believe this would be a good solution to many of Sunken Gardens' problems.
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January 15, 1999
Another article in the Tampa Tribune. And the St. Pete Times.
When visiting Sunken Gardens today, I spoke with one of the employees, who says there have been several other potential buyers in contact with management just since the Eden Garden deal fell through. I have no idea if these are serious offers, or what these interested parties want to do with the park. However, it is good to know there is still interest from a number of sources.
If you are a potential buyer of Sunken Gardens, I'd like to talk to you. Please visit the about me page, or send me an e-mail. (I won't disclose anything you want kept in confidence, but I would like to know what's happening.)
If you are one of Tampa Bay's many residents who is interested in preserving Sunken Gardens, please read over my Preserve page, and let me know your ideas and comments. We can SAVE the Gardens if enough people show their interest!
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January 14, 1999
It now appears that Sunken Gardens will not be sold and converted into a naturist resort. This story broke today in the Tampa Tribune. Unfortunately, as of now, I have no other information, except that this deal is definitely off. I do not know, as of yet, how long the Gardens will stay open, without a pending contract, and I do not know if anyone else is interested in the Gardens. Anyone with money, that is.
Check back in a day or two for the latest.
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January 1, 1999
As of January, 1999, it looks likely that Sunken Gardens, a Florida Landmark and tourist attraction for over 90 years, will be purchased and converted into a nude-friendly natural resort, to be called the Gardens of Eden.
Sunken Gardens has been for sale for years, and now that a solid offer has been made, it looks likely that the attraction will not have to shut down. The current owners, the Turner family, simply are not able to maintain the park with the current income the Gardens are generating.
As of now, Sunken Gardens is OPEN. To my knowledge, the Gardens will stay open until the deal goes through, the Gardens are sold, and the conversion to a naturist resort begins.
The good news is: the Gardens will not be lost. The naturist resort would likely maintain the Gardens, and generate a good amount of money to be invested in the property.
This latest development is the result of months, even years, of efforts to preserve the Gardens. You can read about these efforts on the old Preserve page, which has been saved from a former edition of the Unofficial SG Pages. Also, you should check out the Feedback page, as well as my personal Opinions.
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the latest developments. Please E-Mail me with what's on your mind.
My connection to Sunken Gardens goes back about 20 years, when my family
used to visit Florida. My grandparents lived on 20th Ave., one block behind the
Gardens rear wall. Their front yard was so close you could smell the plants in the
Garden at almost any time. And it was just a short walk from their house, so I went
there often.
I probably went there almost every day. Sometimes my grandfather would
take me. He passed on when I was 5. My parents took me at times, too.
I didn't go through the gardens every time. Back then, Sunken Gardens
had the "World's Largest Gift Shop," and it was worth visiting even if you
didn't see the gardens themselves. There was a fudge shop, a wax museum, and a huge
amount of Florida "junk."
Then, my grandfather died, and my grandmother moved back north with my
parents and me a year later. I only made a couple of trips down to Florida, until a
few months ago.
In December of 1997, I moved back to Florida (this time in Tampa), with my
mother and my grandmother, who is now 91. I started visiting the gardens again, and
now I go every week or two.
Note: Everything else on this page is my opinion. I sit up at night
thinking of things that could be done, then write them here. Other people may have
different ideas, and that's great. But if someone wants to use my ideas to make
Sunken Gardens a better place, that's great too. Here they are:
I've spent this summer off from college working at a local travel
agency. It has given me a good insight into how businesses promote themselves to
tourists. It has saddened me to learn that a great deal of the problems facing the
Gardens now could be attributed to a lack of promotion.
If you've found this page on the internet, you probably spent a good amount
of time searching for specific information. There are several ways you can get
information on an area and its activities: the internet, travel guides, and
brochures.
Sunken Gardens has no official website. The site at www.sunkengardens.com is a noble effort, but is
not updated well or designed with tourists in mind. Many city guides on the internet
don't list the Gardens at all, and a few list this page after a great effort on my part to
be listed with them. They need a better web presence.
Travel guides are helpful, but I have noticed that one of the most used
guides, the AAA Tourbook, does not even mention Sunken Gardens. Not as a tourist
attraction, not even as a historic landmark. I am sure that thousands of people plan
their summer vacations based almost entirely on what this book says. They probably
don't even know the Gardens exist.
Visitors to Florida can pick up flyers for attractions at welcome centers,
travel agencies, and local attractions. I have tried, over the past several months,
to find a flyer for Sunken Gardens, but I just can't. Sunken Gardens needs to print
up these guides, then pay the money to have them distributed at least in Tampa, if not
thoughout Florida.
I hope someone will eventually take some of these suggestions to heart, and
possibly act on them. I still believe this is a worthy cause, and the future for the
Gardens can be a bright one.
If you've read this far down the page, you certainly are as interested as I
am in saving and promoting Sunken Gardens. Please E-mail me with a little moral
support, and let me know your thoughts. I really do appreciate it.
I don't know whether to feel encouraged or discouraged by the news that Sunken Gardens will likely be sold and converted into a nudist resort. So, I'll list the pros and cons here:
Check out some feedback I received from the Turner family!
I've taken a while to weigh the above pros and cons. While I'm not really psyched about the naturist plan, I've come to accept it as the most likely way Sunken Gardens can be saved. From what I've heard, I don't think the Gardens will last another year or two, just waiting for the perfect deal to come along.
So, let's assume, for now, that the nudist plan will be the one that is
enacted. In one way, this is success, in that the gardens themselves, the rich plant
life, etc, will be spared, and even preserved with an influx of cash that the new owners
will bring.
Note: If you've read this far down the page, you must be really
interested, so I hope you'll allow me a little sentimental monologue. Hey, this is
my opinion page.
While I am encouraged that all is not lost, and many improvements will be
made, I can't help but feel sad. Really, what I remember as a child as a special place,
will be gone. It's already almost gone. Sunken Gardens will no longer
exist. That's a reality that I, and everyone else who cares, will just have to
accept.
Sunken Gardens has faded away in the same manner that so many other
special places have disappeared. Small, family owned, real attractions are
passed by as families, on a tight schedule to squeeze in five days of quality time with
the kids, head to Orlando. Turn the kids loose for a couple of days in the synthetic
world of Disney. Forget about spending time, getting to know one another.
Forget appreciating nature, summer, freedom, love. Get your picture taken with goofy
instead.
So maybe my passion for Sunken Gardens is more a desire to preserve a
slice of my childhood, one that was good, pure, and fun. One that was better than
some great event my parents could have planned in advance. And maybe my
sadness at the passing of a silly, cheesy, roadside tourist trap is more directly my
sadness at the changing world, where parents don't know their kids, because they never
took the time to walk around a garden with them. And maybe I'm not just sad, but mad
also, that the only people who can see the value of this place are going to be naked,
while the "mainstream" of society passes it by.
If you feel the way I do, you might find RoadsideAmerica interesting. They've
taken notice of Sunken
Gardens, as well as hundreds of other attractions, that really show the soul of
America. Plan your next vacation around these attractions, and I guarantee, your
vacation will be more real than any packaged, pre-fabricated vacation you can purchase at
AAA.
Now that I've been negative, let's take a moment to focus on the
positive. It does look likely that Sunken Gardens will live on, in some form.
That's important. That's a good thing. And I will gladly support anyone who
shares at least some of the love I have for the Gardens. So let's keep a positive
outlook, and maybe things will turn out better than we may imagine.
March 23rd changed my entire perspective on saving Sunken Gardens. I am impressed that we won the referendum, even with all the odds stacked against us. I know now that a great deal of people in this area believe, like I do, that the Gardens are worth preserving. I think there's a real chance we may be successful.
Of course, everything is dependent on St. Petersburg's city council willingness to approve a plan for which the people of St. Petersburg have shown approval. If that doesn't happen, we are back to square one. So please, visit the News page for a list of things you can do to help secure Sunken Gardens' future.
...is exciting. Now there's the potential to make some real changes, not just talk about them. We can be reasonably sure that the final plan will look something like this:
I believe some of my original ideas will still work. So, for what its worth, here are a few of my ideas, opinions, etc., which I believe, can help make the New Sunken Gardens a great success.
Why not talk to the owners of "Orange Blossom Groves" and see if they would like to open an outlet in the gift shop at Sunken Gardens? Orange Blossom Groves is a regular tourist magnet. I think it would be a perfect answer to keeping the Gardens going.
This city is apparently run by ego and not good sense. If St. Petersburg
stays involved Sunken Gardens will never reopen cost effectively. Anybody who starts a
business here has a ridiculous time with code compliance. A business associate recently
built a new building in my neighborhood and is livid about the treatment she received and
the costs involved. I've heard this over and over, every time people try to get anything
going. Imagine the scale of difficulty in the Gardens project! The city probably cannot
meet it's own codes because they are so impossible to meet. The ongoing pro baseball
fiasco a good sample of the ineptitude of our officials. That failure is probably
contributing in some way to the lack of money for the gardens....even though we voted to
save the Gardens and offered to pay...officials must be dragging their feet while looking
for a way to reallocate the funds to baseball or another project. I am for the gardens
because it contributes to everyone in our community rather than a select few that make
huge profits off our tax dollars.
My suggestion is to get the attention of the "money people" who in
turn will pressure the officials to get moving. I would approach those who are
"connected" in the city. Encourage The Yacht club, the Chamber, the T.V.
stations, big business, etc. to get involved and push this project ahead. Do free
luncheon presentations, circulate petitions, create press releases. It can only help.
Sincerely,
Linda Flading
Dear Dan,
Hi, my name is Gary Caparelli and I am currently living here in Orlando. I was fortunate enough to catch the Orlando Sentinel article the other day regarding Sunken Gardens. Being inquisitive, I did my due diligence on the internet and arrived at your site.
I have never visited Sunken Gardens myself, but I have heard about it and now feel I’ve missed out on something held special by so many people.
Ironically and almost prophetic, I had completed a story published in The Aquaponic Journal back in December that may hold a solution for the future of Sunken Gardens.
I do not know your knowledge or experience with Aquaculture, hydroponics or aquaponics, but basically Aquaculture is fish farming: the cultivating of food fish from fingerling thru grow-out and harvest in a closed, intensive and controlled environment. Hydroponics is soil-less, controlled environment agriculture usually done in a greenhouse with drip irrigation supplying measured amounts of water and nutrients. It is generally done without the use of pesticides and herbicides. Aquaponics is by far the most intriguing. It utilizes the waste products of the fish culture (by way of naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria) to convert the waste to nitrates that is then introduced to the plants as nutrients. This process purifies the water, which is then returned to the fish (tank) to begin a new cycle. Result: INPUT- fish food (pellets) OUTPUT: harvestable fish and several crops of organically grown vegetables, herbs etc.
This is most certainly 21st century agriculture, the technology, equipment and processes are available and in commercial use today. Epcot’s THE LAND exhibit demonstrates the technique, but this 15 year old presentation is woefully outdated and inadequate.
It is my firm belief that Sunken Gardens could very well be reborn in the new millenium with the introduction of this theme. This would not replace the gardens, only add a revitalizing and progressive touch to an already well known site.
There is tremendous public interest and appeal in this new form of agriculture. Because it is sustainable and environmentally friendly, it appeals to the new mindset of most people. The fresh produce is consistent in quality and free of chemicals. All is vine ripened and locally grown and can be marketed on-site.
It is an economically sound venture because it will supply an income from several avenues. Revenues are generated from an admittance fee, retail sales of produce, wholesale sales of surplus as well as the usual souvenirs, educational books, cafeteria sales etc. Guests are treated to an educational, multimedia video presentation and hands –on display area as well as a full facility tour.
And the timing is perfect. As the new millenium dawns, so does the opportunity to capture the imagination of the people. Aquaculture, aquaponics and hydroponics collectively, hold the key to sustainable food production for a growing Planet Earth.
These are just a sample of the ideas and potential for a project of this nature. If the above plan seems like a viable possibility, I would suggest an informal meeting to explore the details and take a preliminary look at the costs. Surprisingly, this can be realized for much less than you might think and all of the technical resources are within 70 miles of St. Petersburg.
Sincerely, Gary Caparelli
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