Thousands of Floridians and park visitors have written, called, and rallied against plans to develop lodges, golf courses, pickleball courts, and more in nine of Florida’s most highly visited state parks since the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) unveiled the proposals a week and a half ago. 

After a press conference Wednesday, Aug. 28, Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the controversial state plan, announcing that it was being “sent back to the drawing board.” 

Other encouraging statements made by the Governor on Wednesday included:

• That “DEP wasn’t going to do anything on the parks plan this year and they were going to go back and listen.”
• “If there does need to be any parks improvements, we’re not going to take away any green space.”
• “If we do nothing, that’s fine with me, it’s what the public wants.”

In addition, the foundation behind the proposed golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Tuskegee Dunes Foundation, confirmed on its website that it is dropping plans to develop golf courses at that particular park location. However, that does not mean that development plans from others — or for 350-room lodges, pickleball courts, and disc golf courses — are off the table.

Watch the Governor’s Wednesday press conference comments (forward to 47-minute mark).

According to News Channel 8 in Tampa, a DEP spokesperson said that the remaining proposed amendments were withdrawn at the request of Gov. DeSantis after significant blowback from the public.

“We will shift to discussions with our local park managers and will revisit any park improvements, if needed, next year,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

As of Aug. 29, there have not been any formal press releases from the Governor’s Office or from DEP.

SCCF continues to thank all the state leaders and legislators who have spoken out against the plan, and to the thousands who have already filed their concerns with their representatives, the DEP, and the Governor’s office through SCCF’s action alert or those of our conservation partners.

SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE DEP

SCCF’s Concerns with the Proposed Projects

• Development of natural areas of the state parks will lead to an irreplaceable loss of unspoiled, environmentally sensitive habitat cherished by residents and tourists alike.
• The state park lands targeted for development would impact water quality, increase noise and light pollution, increase beach erosion, and add more parking lots and other impervious surfaces in habitat that currently contains state and federally protected species.
• This parks plan would set a terrible precedent for additional high-impact development in all state parks.
• The manner with which these plans were presented to the public establish a dangerous precedent that cuts public participation out of management decisions for our public lands.
• Development of public sports infrastructure in our state parks would compete with the private sector providing those same facilities.
• Loss of pristine natural areas in our state parks would negatively impact tourism and threaten the revenue and jobs relied upon by thousands of Floridians.

Your action, combined with thousands of other natural state park advocates have changed the trajectory of this harmful parks plan.

Haven’t signed our action alert? Do so now to let Gov. DeSantis, DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton, and our Southwest Florida Legislative Delegation know that you oppose plans for intensive development anywhere in our natural state park system. We will continue to oppose these plans as presented until there are formal updates or the plan is shelved for good.

SIGN ACTION ALERT

Call Gov. DeSantis: 850-717-9337
Call DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton: 850-245-2118

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