Citrus County commissioners back Railroad Street extension but decline support for proposed Whispering Pines RV campground

Citrus County commissioners voted Jan. 21 to send a county letter supporting the City of Inverness’ request for state funding to extend Railroad Street, but they did not approve backing a separate city proposal to add an RV-style campground at Whispering Pines Park.

City Manager Eric Williams told the board the two items were part of Inverness’ legislative priorities and framed both as efforts to address park funding and local traffic. “What we're here this afternoon to talk to you all about is garnering, cooperative support, not only for two specific projects outlined in our legislative priorities,” Williams said when he introduced the items.

The Railroad Street request involves completing a platted city right-of-way that currently is paved only partway from Turner Camp Road toward U.S. 41. City officials said the extension would create an alternate route north of the Withlacoochee State Trail to relieve congestion at the Zephyr/Ella signal and reduce traffic through neighborhood streets. Commissioners and city staff cautioned the connection to U.S. 41 would require coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation and likely follow the highway widening and bridge work now planned for the corridor.

Support for the Railroad Street request passed unanimously after commissioners separated the two asks. Commissioner Janet Barrick moved for county support of the extension; the motion was seconded and carried 5-0.

City officials described the campground proposal as a state-park-style, short-stay camping area intended to generate revenue to help sustain Whispering Pines Park, a state-owned unit the city and county jointly manage under a state unit management plan. Eric Williams said the city’s legislative request sought $3 million for the campground, with the city committing $1 million and asking the state for $2 million. Williams said the concept would be “akin to a state park campground” with partial hookups (water and electric and a single dump station) and estimated “50 to 75 sites tops.”

The campground idea drew broad and often sharply divergent public comment. Opponents — including Windermere Garden Villas residents and users of the Withlacoochee Trail — urged the board not to support a project they said would increase traffic, remove ball fields, and degrade the trail and park experience. “Please don't allow this to happen,” said trail user Richard Fawcett. Residents also asked for more detailed impact studies and clearer maps showing how the extension and campground would fit with the trail and the highway grade.

Supporters — including several people who identified themselves as RV campers and representatives of tourism interests — argued a campground would bring visitor nights and revenue that could be reinvested in park capital projects such as pool repairs. One resident who identified himself as an RV camper said the RV community “are good Samaritans” and would be conscientious users.

A motion to approve the city’s entire request (both the Railroad Street extension and the Whispering Pines campground) was introduced by Commissioner Jeff Kennard and seconded by Commissioner Holly Davis but failed in a 2–3 vote after the extensive public discussion. After that vote commissioners moved to consider the two items separately; the Railroad Street support carried 5–0 and the board did not adopt a letter supporting the campground.

Several commissioners said they were sympathetic to the city’s need to identify capital funding for Whispering Pines — county documents and participants noted the park is expensive to operate and the city and county have jointly funded it — but they were not prepared to endorse the campground concept without more information. Commissioner Janet Barrick said she “like[s] the road part” but the RV park “just doesn't sit right” with her. Chair Rebecca Bays and others emphasized the need for more detailed engineering, traffic and property-impact information before backing any campground funding request at the county level.

City officials said the campground concept and the Railroad Street idea are not immediate construction projects; they described the campground site as an already-cleared field inside the park and said any campground connection or entrance work would be coordinated with FDOT and the state, and that the highway widening project may change bridge grades in the area. Williams said the city has entered the request as part of its legislative priorities and asked the board to consider a letter of support; commissioners limited their formal county backing to the Railroad Street funding request.

The board’s action means the county will formally endorse the city’s effort to secure state funding to extend Railroad Street. The campground request remains a city initiative without county endorsement; city staff said they will continue to pursue state funding and to respond to public concerns. The state’s review of any funding request and the FDOT schedule for the U.S. 41 widening and bridge work will shape whether and how either project proceeds.