There are some really sick bastards in our state and county government agencies who are hell bent on destroying decades old Australian pines that provided much needed shade in our taxpayer funded parks and other areas. What was once a beautiful shaded park is now a sun blasted desert and public attendance has to have fallen as a result of this idiocy. South Florida is way below the recommended shade canopy levels and the fools in government agencies are eliminating part of what we do have. I suppose the eggheads have never read of the damaging effects that direct sun exposure has on human skin so they want to expose us to even more damaging sun rays by eliminating the tall shade that the Australian Pines provided? The premise that the Australian Pines are "non-native" and need to be removed is absolute BS in that I don't see them removing the "non-native" concrete and asphalt hideous structures that have been erected on almost every square inch of real estate in South Florida. Look at all the wetlands that have been destroyed just west of this state park to build parking areas for Port Everglades. Instead of spending our tax dollars on destroying tall dark green shade-producing trees we should be ensuring that hungry kids and poor people have enough to eat to stay alive.