THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 20, 1996 TAG: 9605200045
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
State parks officials have developed the first master plan for isolated False Cape State Park, allowing limited development of the pristine barrier spit for camping, environmental education and day visitors.
This vision is less aggressive than previous statements the state has made about the park's future. When the park was first developed, the state envisioned 25,000 visitors per day. About 10 years ago, the figure was only 2,000 per day.
Now, the master plan calls for a maximum of 600 people per day.
The goal is to ``keep the park's natural appearance while providing environmental education and passive recreation,'' parks spokesman Gary Waugh said.
The plan also states that ``access should remain limited.'' About 95 percent of the park will be designated a Natural Area Preserve, which means those areas can never be developed.
The state's commitment to the development plan was integral in the recent successful negotiations for access to False Cape State Park through adjoining Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
``We believe that it was one of the major breakthroughs,'' refuge manager John Stasko said. ``Without those things, we couldn't have given them the kind of access we have.
``Those earlier numbers would have changed the whole nature of not only the park, but the refuge.''
Waugh said parks officials had long dismissed earlier visitor projections, but had not formalized the new goals until now.
``This plan was not a compromise,'' Waugh said. ``It's basically the vision we've had for False Cape, but it's the first time we've put it down on paper like this.''
Access to the park is limited to hiking or biking 10 miles round-trip through the refuge. During the cold months, the refuge closes its interior dikes, or roads, to protect wintering waterfowl. That forces visitors to make the trip by beach - a more arduous journey because of sand, tides and wind.
After 30 years of conflict, park and refuge officials have come to an agreement that provides for year-round access, primarily through a ``people mover'' system being developed, while providing protection for wildlife.
An electric tram, which will be used in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, would transport visitors on the dikes during the spring, summer and fall. And a specially engineered bus, dubbed the ``Magic Bus'' with a wide base and wheels, would run on the beach in the winter.
Refuge officials say that moving a large group of people in a vehicle would cause less disturbance to the wildlife than if each person walked through the refuge at different intervals.
The agreement, including the master plan, is being released for public review and will not be completed until July. Even if approved, however, money is not available to implement the master plan right away.
``Hopefully, we'll bring a better public appreciation for both the park and the refuge,'' Waugh said. ``We want to help with making sure people see the need for both of these unique areas.'' MEMO: ACCESS AGREEMENT
Elements of the proposed False Cape State Park/Back Bay National
Wildlife Refuge Access plan:
Year-round access routes will be open through the refuge. The
agreement allows additional trips through the refuge, but with more
controls. The routes will shift from the interior dikes to the beach
depending on the season and where the majority of birds are
congregating.
Hikers and bikers will continue to be prohibited from using interior
dikes during winter months. However, the park will be allowed limited
use of one of the dikes to transport visitors in vehicles.
To compensate for creating additional disturbance to wildlife, the
state would transfer the management of about 200 acres in the northern
end of the park to the refuge (Barbours Hill), which would provide more
habitat for birds. The land, however, would remain in state ownership.
The state would have to make improvements to the Barbours Hill
wildlife area, including rebuilding some dikes and replacing water
control structures.
The agreement supports a jointly operated transportation system for
shuttling visitors between the two facilities on the beach and the
dikes.
A master plan permits limited development of the park.
About 95 percent of the park will be designated as natural area
preserves.
ILLUSTRATION: FALSE CAPE STATE PARK CONCEPT PLAN
Map and graphic
KEN WRIGHT
The Virginian-Pilot
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB