Weeki Wachee, Sept 25: Florida's endangered Weeki Wachee mermaids got a reprieve when a state agency voted to keep their aging theme park open while renovations are made. The park, about 50 miles north of Tampa, has been presenting underwater ballets with women in mermaid costumes since 1947. But attendance has been falling for decades since the opening of more elaborate parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios near Orlando. The Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, threatened this summer to close the park because of concern that problems with the sewer system might contaminate Weeki Wachee Springs, which pumps over 100 million gallons of water into the nearby Gulf of Mexico.
Swiftmud owns the springs and the land where the park is located and the city of Weeki Wachee, population 9, operates the attraction.
After hearing proposals from city and park officials on how improvements would be made at a meeting on Tuesday, Swiftmud's board decided to keep the park open.
"The board clearly wants to see Weeki Wachee make a go of it," a Swiftmud spokeswoman said.
"We're very excited about it. We look forward to working with them (Swiftmud)," John Athanason, the park's marketing director, said.
Park officials will make a progress report to the board in 30 days. Athanason said work on the sewer system would begin in January.
The daily mermaid shows take place in an underwater theater at Weeki Wachee Springs.
Bureau Report