"A Land Remembered" no longer seeking to film at Fort De Soto
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The entrance to Pinellas County's Fort De Soto Park. Photo: John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
The producers behind the TV adaptation of "A Land Remembered" told Axios on Wednesday they will no longer pursue a permit to film at Fort De Soto.
Why it matters: The film's initial proposal raised alarms with environmental advocates who said the project could harm the park's animal and plant life, including gopher tortoises, birds and sea turtles.
State of play: Showrunner Todd Wiseman Jr. notified the Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Film Commission about 1pm via email that the team was bowing out of the permit effort.
- "At every stage in production, we're committed to work with stakeholders to protect the natural environment while we bring this incredible Florida story to life," Wiseman wrote.
- A spokesperson for the production sent the same statement to Axios.
The big picture: The withdrawal comes days after Axios first reported on the proposal, which initially involved introducing livestock into the park as well as trucks and trailers, animal pens, and crates and tents placed atop dunes.
- Producers were seeking to start filming next month, which falls at the beginning of marine turtle nesting season and well into beach bird nesting season, environmental advocates said.
- Producers told Axios last week they were in the process of paring down the proposal but declined to share the most updated version of the plans.
- They submitted a revised proposal to the film commission Wednesday morning but backed out altogether soon after, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater spokesperson Jason Latimer said.
Between the lines: Without a permit, the crew can't film in the park, regardless of the scope of the project, Latimer confirmed.
What they're saying: "I'm proud of them for making that difficult but right decision," Audubon Florida executive director Julie Wraithmell said Wednesday.
- Concerned observers spent the last several days blanketing county commissioners with emails opposing the project, said Lorraine Margeson, an environmental activist and shorebird nesting monitor.
- "This county can never ever think about doing this to our parks and preserves ever again, because they'll get the same reaction," Margeson said.
Zoom out: It's the second win claimed by local environmentalists this week. Activists had also been protesting Country Thunder Florida, a music festival that was set to take place on St. Pete Beach next month.
- There, too, the concern was nesting season for local wildlife.
- With permits for the festival still pending and pressure from environmentalists mounting, organizers announced Tuesday they were moving the event to Coachman Park in Clearwater.