Park officials say the new parking arrangement was worked out during six public hearings held to develop a management plan for the Walter Jones Historical Park. That's fine and dandy, but boaters who use the ramp, even if they knew about them, would have had no reason to attend the hearings to give their input. Park officials also justify the new arrangement by saying emergency vehicles would have difficulty getting down County Dock Road with trailers parked on the side. That's a dicey argument at best. If that logic is followed, you might as well kiss the other public boat ramp in Mandarin, this one on Hood Landing Road, goodbye.
Trailers line that road as well.
Anyway, that's the bureaucratic gobbledygook behind the change. Let's cut to the bottom line. Folks with money have built expensive homes on the river and on the north side of County Dock Road. They don't want the boaters there. They complain about damaged landscaping and nefarious activities.