Problem Identification
The north-central Florida town WhiteSprings lies along the of
Suwannee River, south portion the of rural Hamilton County, 30 miles
south of Georgia's line. The Town state of White Springs is
approximately threemiles fromI- and six miles from I- Hwy 75 10. US
41 is a bi-directional passageway through White Springs. The FDOT
has formerly depicted the everyday average traffic count to be
approximately 3,600, with commercial truck traffic accounting for at
least 14.4% the total, escalating high traffic crime volume ratio of a &
to Lawenforcement availability. Hamilton County, including the
Town White Springs, socially and economically depressed. Under of is
Florida Statute the State Florida designated White 288.0656, of
Springs as a Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC), one of
the state's most vulnerable areas. classified It is as a low-income
community the Florida (2012 FloridaStatutes, 2022). by state of
According statelaw, Hamilton County,which includes White to
Springs, "Brownfield Area," Chapter and "Florida is a per 97-277
Enterprise Zone," rules of Florida, codified as Sections 376.77- -376
84, 14 Florida Statutes; and Whereas said Resolution No. 2004, -
indicates that the board of County Commissioners, Hamilton Coun ty
established Enterprise Zone with approval the state(Hamilton an of
County Brownfield Areas and Sites, 2022).
In White Springs, residents have low incomes;local businesses are
scarce, and the tax base inadequate. the 2000 census,Hamilton is In
County ranked having the lowest average as household income in
Florida; the Town White Springs demonstrates this of
unquestionably. accordance with state Florida Department In the of
of of Revenue's F.S.218.075, thetown has capita taxable value a per
24,807 103,847 in comparison to statewide (Property TaxOversight,
2022).
In Hamilton County, high-paying jobs are scarce, and even -paying low
jobs arehard comeby. Consequently, many children return to to
empty when their parents, grandparents, and/or guardia homes ns
work adjacent counties make ends meet. The lack aftercare, in to of
or of daycare, exposes children moresignificant risks to abuse,
neglect, even or crime.
A Recreation Department does not exist in White Springs due to a
lack owned recreational lands and public funds. Despite of locally a
publicly funded Recreation Department Hamilton County (the in
county seat, 26+/-miles north of White Springs), it is inaccessible to
White Springs residents because their povertylevelandlack of of
