FORT WHITE, Fla. (WCJB) -Some residents of Gilchrist County had their memorial day weekend celebrations cut short after multiple shootings in Ginnie Springs that resulted in the park being temporarily closed.
Gilchrist County sheriff’s deputies confirm both a Friday and Saturday night shooting.
Merrillee and Doug Jipson are environmentalists who own a recreational tourism business, and they tell TV20 violence isn’t the only impact they’re seeing from increased holiday tourism to the springs.
“I think our biggest thing is to educate so we try and get people to understand you don’t just get out willy nilly anywhere in the river,” Doug Jipson shared. “Like today I went down the river and basically what I saw was a lot of vegetation destruction.”
They also say they recognize the pros tourism brings to the communities’ economy.
“I think there needs to be maybe some sort of…the springs tourism groups get together including the Florida Springs Institute and the other entities that are in this area and we all have this sit down.” She stated. “Because this can’t continue to disrupt this type of community anymore.”
The Jipsons also say there will be a post-Memorial Day River cleanup on June 15.
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