Update May 22, 2025 – Good News…

Florida state parks saved from development as Gov. DeSantis signs protection bill.

• State Park Preservation Act: This act is the foundation of the bill, emphasizing the need for balancing recreation with conservation within state parks. 

Key Points :

• The bill prohibits the construction of luxury lodges, golf courses, and pickleball courts within state parks. 
• While prohibiting certain developments, the bill allows for the installation of campsites and cabins under specific guidelines, ensuring that they don’t negatively impact the natural environment. 
• The bill also revises the notice requirements for public meetings related to land management plans, ensuring transparency and public participation. 

Update 8/29/2024

Good news, at least for now!

After 8 days of outrage by Floridians, the Governor holds an unrelated press conference and is asked by the press about the plans for our state parks during questions. He answers by saying that the plans were, “half-baked and not ready for prime time” and will, “not happen this year.” 

PRISTINE WHITE SAND BEACHES AND VIBRANT HISTORY

Anastasia State Park, Saint Augustine Florida, More than 1,600 acres of unspoiled beaches, tidal marshes, maritime hammocks and ancient sand dunes.

This is Horrible news for our Beautiful Unique Florida State Parks… (I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, I don’t think this is all they have up their sleeves)!

FDEP – Florida Department of Environmental Protection Announcement – 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks. The announcement (the one week notice) and the huge buildup of crediting the Governor’s Leadership foreshadowed the flood of bad news to come for the nine State Parks across Florida.

With less than a week’s notice and last minute information for the meetings, these proposals were meant to be fast-tracked with minimal public input. As of now the meetings were cancelled and are pending rescheduling at bigger venues, because of the public outcry!

Please read on... to find out what the Governor’s & the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s definition of Lodging and Recreation should be in a Florida State Park…

Anastasia State Park:

PROPOSAL: 

• A park lodge with up to 350 rooms in the maritime hammock. (A park lodge? Sounds like a hotel in a globally rare Maritime Hammock)!
• Pickleball courts in the maritime hammock
• A disc golf course in the maritime hammock. (Disc golf and Pickle ball courts in a globally rare Maritime Hammock)?

Other Florida State Parks effected:

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Sixteen distinct natural communities create the mosaic that is Jonathan Dickinson, the largest state park in Southeast Florida.

• PROPOSAL:
• An 18-hole and 9-hole golf course in the Atlantic Ridge scrub community east of the Brightline rail track, encompassing roughly 550 acres
• An 18-hole golf course in the Atlantic Ridge scrub west of the Brightline rail track, encompassing roughly 500 acres.
• Recreation??? 2 Golf Courses in a State Park!

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Topsail Hill is named for its dunes, which rise like a ship’s sails over soft sand beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The dunes are responsible for a rare coastal ecosystem, where you may see some of the 13 imperiled species that find refuge here.

• TOPSAIL PROPOSAL:
• A park lodge with up to 350 rooms (another hotel)
• A disc golf course in the scrubby flatwoods south of the cabin area
• Pickleball courts

Grayton Beach State Park

Soaking in warm gulf breezes while relaxing on pristine Grayton Beach might be the main attraction, but that’s only one aspect of this gorgeous park.

PROPOSAL:

• A new restroom at the beach access area near the cabins
• 10 new cabins
• A disc golf course
• Pickleball courts

Dr. Von Mizell – Eula Johnson State Park

This beachside park just south of Port Everglades is the last example of an undeveloped coastal ecosystem in Broward County.

PROPOSAL: 

• Pickleball courts

Camp Helen State Park

Camp Helen is a place where visitors can explore an environment rich in natural and cultural resources.  Prehistoric middens and mounds indicate that humans inhabited the area more than 4,000 years ago.

PROPOSAL: 

• New cabins and glamping

Hillsborough River State Park

Just minutes from downtown Tampa, this diverse park offers a refuge from city life with seven miles of nature trails and wonderful wildlife viewing.

PROPOSAL: 

• A disc golf course
• Pickleball courts

Honeymoon Island State Park

A short drive from Tampa, beautiful Honeymoon Island offers visitors an escape from the bustle of city life. Explore a three-mile trail through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests.

PROPOSAL: 

• Pickleball courts

Oleta River State Park

Thirty minutes from downtown Miami, this gorgeous park is bisected by its namesake waterway that winds through a natural oasis. At just over a thousand acres, this natural oasis — Florida’s largest urban park.

PROPOSAL: 

• Disc golf course
• Pickleball courts
• Cabins

For Useful Information Check out These Sites, I Did!

Audubon Florida

Florida Wildlife Federation