Update Aug. 30, from WFLA.com/news: “When asked about the plan Thursday [Aug. 29], Governor DeSantis said, ‘This is something that was leaked. It was never approved by me, I never saw that.’ While distancing himself from the proposal, DeSantis said the idea is being scrapped. ‘They’re not doing anything this year. They’re going to go back and basically listen to folks,’ he explained. ‘A lot of stuff that was half-baked and it was not ready for prime time and it was intentionally leaked out.’ According to the governor, the earliest the idea could resurface is next year.”
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In recent weeks, a controversial development proposal has sparked a wave of protests across Florida. Citizens are rallying against plans to introduce extensive construction within several Florida state parks. The proposal includes the development of golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts, and other amenities within nine of the state’s parks.
Bring more visitors to Florida state parks?
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unveiled the ambitious plan last week. The aim of the development is to increase visitor numbers and enhance recreational opportunities within the parks. However, the proposal has faced significant backlash from environmentalists, local officials, and residents. They believe the proposal threatens the very essence of the state’s natural reserves.
Public outcry and protests
Opposition to the plan has been robust, with protests occurring at various locations across the state. One of the most notable gatherings took place at Honeymoon Island State Park, located along Florida’s central Gulf Coast. Here, the proposal includes constructing pickleball courts near the park’s pristine beaches.
Democratic State Representative Lindsey Cross, speaking at the rally, voiced concerns shared by many attendees: “It’s just contrary to what our parks are about. These spaces are meant to provide a place to slow down and reconnect with nature.”
Approximately 150 people attended the Honeymoon Island protest, carrying signs with messages such as “Save Don’t Pave” and “Parks Over Profit.” Similar demonstrations were held at other affected parks and at the DEP headquarters in Tallahassee. This response reflects widespread discontent with the proposed developments.
Opposition momentum
As the protests gain momentum, the DEP has responded by delaying the public hearings initially scheduled to discuss the development plans. The delay comes after the agency abandoned one of its more contentious proposals—to build a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The Tuskegee Dunes Foundation, which had planned to build the golf course in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, backed out amid growing public opposition. This signaled a potential victory for environmental advocates.
Plan continues
Despite opposition, the broader development plan remains under consideration. The governor’s office defends the initiative as a way to attract more visitors to Florida’s state parks. The plan’s proponents argue that features like golf, disc golf, and hotels will diversify the recreational offerings of the parks and draw in tourists.
Bipartisan criticism
The proposal has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with both Republican and Democratic leaders questioning the wisdom of the plan. U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with various environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the Cleo Institute, have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Florida’s natural habitats.
Misguided
Jeff Gow, a City Council member from Dunedin, where Honeymoon Island is located, summarized the sentiments of many opponents: “The reason all this came about was to make a profit from our state parks. It’s just misguided.”
The value of Florida’s state parks
Florida is home to 175 state parks, covering nearly 800,000 acres across the state. Many of these parks are celebrated for their unspoiled beauty and have previously resisted attempts at commercialization. For many Floridians, the parks represent a crucial refuge from the state’s rapid development and urbanization.
Parks, not profit
Michelle Birnbaum, a Dunedin resident who attended the Honeymoon Island rally, articulated a common argument against the development plans: “Green space is an economic value. Our parks are in the business of being parks, not profit.”
Fight continues
As the debate over the future of Florida’s state parks continues, environmental advocates and concerned citizens remain vigilant. They are determined to protect these natural treasures from commercial encroachment. Whether the protests will ultimately sway the decision-makers remains to be seen. For now, the fight to “Save Don’t Pave” continues.
##RVT1172b
Pickleball? Nah. Now, a golf course? That’s a different matter! That’s definitely back to nature! 😉 Each of those activities should be taken separately since some might be appropriate and others not. Disc golf is very popular in some parks and they don’t seem intrusive.
I don’t see what golf has to do with nature. The course destroys a large area of natural beauty. Most state parks already have areas for frisbee playing (disc golf), a pick up game of baseball/football or just an area where kids can run and play and adults can walk.
The Governor seems to be looking for a way to make money and taking away recreation for residents and visitors.
Put the hotels in their own commercial areas and tax the heck out of them. Leave the parks alone.
One more thing. The Department of Environment Protection, DEP, is supposed to PROTECT the environment, not destroy it.
I read ccg’s post as being sarcastic … note the winking eye emoji!
Parks are for people and to enable people to recreate. They aren’t confined to protecting nature. Sure, some do, but that isn’t the exclusive point. Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Other states such as Georgia have several state parks with golf courses that do quite well. Everyone’s recreational interests are different.
Great point, Dan! They aren’t for a single thing, they are for many things. Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 Hmm, … I wonder what the anticipated costs of the upgrades and the forecast increased revenues were? Out of the 175, how many were targeted for enhancement? I wonder how many projects, such as dune restoration, could have been funded by the greens fees, etc.,.
Dune restoration??? Trying to control Mother Nature?
Sure, why not? People gotta live. North Carolina does it along the Outer Banks. Florida doesn’t do it?!? Well, maybe there are other environmental projects that could have been funded by the surfeit of greens fees and cart rentals, e.g. Thanks for the information, WEB Webster! Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Kind of opening up a can of worms here WEB.
If increased Dune Erosion is a function of climate change, the question is whether it is better to spend $5 million on heavy equipment and sand to restore the dunes or spend $47 trillion to possibly, hopefully, wishfully reduce Dune Erosion.
Break it down by population and Florida’s take of $47 trillion is about $4 trillion, which at $5 mm per year for the Dunes is 900,000 years of Dune restoration. Pick your poison. $50mm/year for Dune resto is only 90,000 years of Dune resto.
Pragmatic solutions vs. pipe dreams.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 Sounds like the Florida state parks are for the protesters, and not those who golf, play disc golf, pickleball, or participate in whatever other “enhancements” that were planned. I wonder how much revenue beyond the costs of the projects might have been earned to avoid future budget cuts, to restore coastal dunes, and a host of other projects that can only be alternately funded by tax increases or higher use-fees? Seems almost amusing to a rank outsider unlikely to ever visit there again. 🤔😯😉 Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays
There you go with dunes again… controlling a dune is like tying a rope onto a tornado.
Florida has already cut back on outsiders trying to book into the parks, now you want to destroy the same parks?
Don’t dunes protect the ocean-side or the gulf-side parks? Well, if they do, then wouldn’t dune restoration save the parks? If they don’t, then use the revenues to undertake some other environmental project. Unfortunately, there are no additional revenue sources because there won’t be any golf courses. You’ll have to make do with what you have already. Have a great weekend, WEB Webster! Safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Obviously, you do not live in Florida, yet you are quick to chime in on OUR State Parks and how they could best be used. I see you commenting on practically EVERY article in this publication – you don’t have enough to do and sit too close to a computer.
Neal is always a gentleman when commenting. The constitution also guarantees Neal freedom of speech. Whether readers like his comments or not.
Thanks, Bob. I appreciate that. 🙂 Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Sorry Lady Di. Didn’t realize I was on your toes. 🙁 I am an economist, I think like one, and I comment as one. And yes, I DO try to comment on EVERY article. Someone went to great time and effort to write an article. It can seem thankless. I intend to encourage. Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Hi, LadyDi. Yes, Neal is our most frequent commenter. He is also always polite and is appreciative of our writers, and lets them know it. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. And no, he doesn’t just sit in front of a computer because he doesn’t have enough to do.🤣🤣 He is one of the busiest people I “know,” taking care of many acres of property, among many other things he is doing, in his “retirement”🙄 years. And how do you know he is commenting on “practically EVERY article in this publication” unless you, also, are reading them (which we appreciate, BTW👍)?🤔 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
So your ‘for’ talking about an alternate but creative source for increased revenue instead if raising taxes.
How dare you, you outsider you!!! 🤣😅✌️
You’re gonna need a CP hat Neal. 😮
Sorry, Cancelproof. 🙁 😉 I’ll take my phone and stand in the corner now. 😉 Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I love the idea that Florida wants to draw more visitors to the states parks. It’s already almost impossible to reserve a campsite between October and April, which was recently made even more difficult for out of staters with the one month lag for non-Florida residents.
If I visit one of the state parks, where will I stay? Park the camper and pay for one of the upcoming hotel rooms?
That’s exactly how I feel when I pay my insurance bill which also covers me for people with no mandatory insurance.
That is how I feel on tax day, paying for illegals to stay in $500/night hotel rooms in Times Square.
That is how I feel when my tax dollars pay for another’s selective surgery choice.
We all have to eat our vegetables whether we enjoy them or not.
Happy trails WEB. 🚌✌️
It is a shame, really. I hope they scrap this completely. Nothing with Ron surprises me though
As with all things Florida, its all about the bucks. Seems like the State Park administration forgot their mission.
I did read that Desantis has backed off the golf course parts.
The initial releases stated “At the direction of the office of governor.”
This spells out whose idea it was. A company that has one golf course in another state has been outed as being involved, as has Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, although it’s possible that Woods and Nicklaus were unaware of their supposed involvement.
I suspect it’s simply a payoff for political donations. As always, follow the money.
In a bid to get more visitors to the parks? Huh? It’s nearly impossible to get a reservation at a Florida State Park as it is now. I will admit, it is nice to have power, water and cell service.
As a Florida resident and user of Florida state parks for camping, I was taken aback by the plans to put golf courses, resorts and pickle ball courts, etc., in the state parks. What they need to do to attract more people to the parks is put in more campsites. Like everyone else who has camped at a Florida state park, it can be almost impossible to get a campsite. When we do get lucky to reserve a campsite, we enjoy the “solitude” of the park, trails, biking, fishing, etc. I have camped at some of the Georgia state parks that also have resorts, and the experience was very different.
There are plenty of Private RV parks that offer those amenities. The private parks have swimming pools, mini golf courses, paved campsites. Privately owned parks cost more because they have those amenities.
A lot of people go to State Parks to get back to nature. They want to hear the birds sing, and walk on the trails.
It’s all about money and catering to the wealthy Gov. DeSantis voters/donners. Doesn’t Florida have enough vacationers.
The option to vacationers spending money and adding to an economy allowing for NO STATE INCOME TAX, would be a California style governor with high homelessness, high unemployment, HIGH STATE TAX, high crime and generally high voters. Could be why Stallone and 400,000 more California’s moved to Florida in the past 5 years than went the other way.
I can play golf at a host of beautiful golf courses in Florida, and have a lot less trouble getting a tee time than booking a campsite at a state park. I can play golf or pickleball right in my community. Many popular state parks fill up early in the morning for day use, and folks have to line up in the street. I visit our state parks to relax at the beach, soak in the springs, or walk on the trails through pristine habitat. It’s mostly quiet and definitely destressing. I’m not sure why we’re worried about increasing use. I agree with comments about money. Florida state parks are self-funded. Why don’t we initiate State funding? Last I knew we had a large budget surplus.
There are golf courses, hotels, and pickleball courts within close proximity to most Florida state parks. If the State wants to get into the action and compete with them for tourist dollars, why don’t they buy or condemn surrounding property to construct sports facilities. Golf course and other large facility construction destroys a lot of habitat that will be lost forever. Isn’t that why many of the parks were started in the first place: allow public access to unspoiled Florida?
Unfortunately the state gummint has turned 350 acres of state forest over to a golf course developer. already. I think they will turn out to be “friends” of the current incumbent. I can’t wait to see him turned out of office.
Just wondering how many jobs are created building a golf courses? Any chance they employ people after they are built? Will there be a restaurant or shopping? Any property taxes being paid by the course owners? Did the developer just get the 350 acres as a gift or was a land swap involved? Any cash payment to the state on top or just a swap of raw land? Any homes being built at the communities creating even more construction jobs and if so, will it free up pre-existing homes and help with the housing shortages? Will those new homes need infrastructure, creating more jobs thru shopping, restaurants and services? Will those new homeowners then need ….?
Also, those facilities are often provided by city/county parks. My little home town has a gym, lots of basketball locations, a lake, a beach, 5 soccer fields 4 soft/hardball fields, a bandshell, 3 tennis courts, several boat launches and multiple playgrounds/picnic areas. I spoze I could google to see how many pickleball fields the county provides, not to mention 3 water parks at least.