NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

January 21, 1999

CONTACT: Sam McKinney (352) 732-1225

LAKE GRIFFIN GETS NEW FISHING PIER

Herlong Park (interactive map) in Leesburg has long been one of the few places on Lake Griffin where people without a boat can fish from the bank. Now there's another angling opportunity at the park - a brand new fishing pier!

The new handicapped-accessible pier is a joint project of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Lake County, and the city of Leesburg, and will be officially opened at a special dedication on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 10:30 a.m., at the park.

The public is invited as county, state and local officials, as well as representatives from Redd Team Manufacturing - the company that designed, built and installed the new pier - make the first official cast and open the pier to the public.

"This is a good example of what can be accomplished when agencies work together for a project that people can use and enjoy," said Sam McKinney, regional fisheries biologist for the FWC.

The 75-foot aluminum fishing pier is T-shaped and floats about 30 feet offshore so anglers have a choice of fishing near the shoreline vegetation or in open water. The rail system is designed to accommodate standing or seated anglers, and the aluminum decking and recycled plastic cap rails will keep maintenance low. The pier is connected to the parking lot by a sidewalk that meets the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act. In addition to the pier and sidewalk, nuisance plant control completes the efforts to enhance fishing at the park.

The pier cost $18,351 to build, $9,000 of which was contributed by Lake County from the Fish Conservation Fund (the extra $1 paid for fishing licenses purchased in Lake County). The balance was paid for by the FWC using fishing license revenues and Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration funds. The city of Leesburg constructed the sidewalk and will maintain the park grounds.

The pier and park additions are part of the continuing efforts to revitalize interest in fishing in Lake Griffin, which has been a FWC Fish Management Area since 1967. Last spring the Commission stocked more than 50,000 largemouth bass and planted 1.5 miles of the lake's shoreline with native aquatic plants in a pilot project to restore quality aquatic habitat to Lake Griffin.