By Hannah Collins
HANNAH COLLINS | The Advertiser
Holmes County commissioners have approved a new paid-access plan for Lake Cassidy, a recreation area northwest of Bonifay, drawing mixed reactions from local residents and law enforcement.
During the May 3 meeting of the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners, officials directed the county attorney to amend the county parks ordinance to implement an annual permit system that restricts access to the lake via a half-acre parcel of public land owned by the county. The change, which goes into effect immediately, allows the county to begin installing a gated entrance and issuing access credentials.
Under the new plan, 150 annual passes will be sold. Florida residents will pay $140 for a decal and key fob; out-of-state visitors will be charged $500.
The half-acre access point was acquired by the county in 2018 through a civil lawsuit settlement. In the years since, Lake Cassidy has remained a destination for boaters, swimmers, and families seeking outdoor recreation, though concerns have grown about overcrowding and the site’s limited capacity.
“We’ve had it all in a lease, and it was something that the commissioners felt, you know, this is what we need to do,” said Commissioner Earl Stafford. “It is to go in and purchase a park and go for that to have it for the citizens.”
Holmes County residents and Holmes County Sheriff John Tate cited safety concerns during the meeting. Tate noted that while he does not oppose the plan outright, his agency lacks the personnel to manage access enforcement or respond swiftly to emergencies in such a limited and potentially congested space.
“When we get bombarded with calls about these people not following the rules… I don’t have an X amount of deputies covering the county,” Tate said. “The number one concern is when you get a bunch of people in one place and you try to send one officer down there to police it—that can quickly turn into a bad situation.”
Despite the pushback, commissioners voted to proceed with the plan. The county will next move to purchase and install a secured gate at the entryway before issuing decals and key fobs to the approved 150 permit holders.
Additional public feedback is expected as the program is rolled out and the long-term viability of the access system is tested in the months ahead.
Staff Report 