Jacob Ogles- Anastasia State Park
- Camp Helen State Park
- Dr. Von D. Mizell – Eula Johnson State Park
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Grayton Beach State Park
- Hillsborough River State Park
- Honeymoon Island State Park
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park
- Oleta River State Park
- state parks
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Florida Cabinet members are voicing alarm at a reported plan to allow lodging and golf courses to be built in state parks.
“Public lands should be enjoyed and protected,” said Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “We have to be really careful when we talk about building infrastructure in state parks.”
Simpson expressed concern after a report by the Tampa Bay Times revealed that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had plans to construct more lodges, pickleball courts and other amenities in at least nine parks around Florida. Agency officials told the newspaper the plans were part of an initiative to support Florida’s “outdoor recreation economy.”
Simpson said media reports were the first he heard of the plan, and that he had “serious concerns” about the effort.
He’s not alone. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis called the proposal a “slippery slope.”
“The current state parks have established designation, design, followings for their theme or characteristics,” Patronis said.
A public calendar shows the Division of Recreation and Parks will hold public meetings on changes to its management plan.
Conceptual land use maps and meeting location details have been noticed by DEP regarding the plans for nine state parks: Hillsborough River State Park; Honeymoon Island State Park; Oleta River State Park; Jonathan Dickinson State Park; Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park; Anastasia State Park; Camp Helen State Park; Topsail Hill Preserve State Park; and Grayton Beach State Park.
All meetings are scheduled on Aug. 27 at 3 p.m., with each one scheduled for an hour.
At each meeting, an amendment to the park’s use management plan will be considered.
For example, a plan for Honeymoon Island in Dunedin will consider locations to construct four pickleball courts. Right now, the state markets that park as an “escape from the bustle of city life” and a “birdwatcher’s paradise.”
A plan for Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is more dramatic and includes dedicated large portions of the Santa Rosa park for disc golf courses and a 350-room lodge. That could require redesigning a campground and existing cabin area with more infrastructure.
Among the more dramatic plans is for Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. The plans there call for 18-hole golf courses, which would require the elimination of a currently unused Hobe Mountain boardwalk and observation tower and the relocation of park offices, residences and training facilities in the park now. The state right now promotes the park as 10,000 acres with 16 different natural communities and a series of hiking trails.
The plans are all part of a Great Outdoors Initiative unveiled last week to “expand public access, increase outdoor activities and provide new lodging options across Florida’s state parks—reinforcing the state’s dedication to conservation, the outdoor recreation economy and a high quality of life for Floridians.”
A press release announcing the plans notes the state under Gov. Ron DeSantis has purchased some 260,000 acres of conservation land, most of that part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
“Today’s announcement reinforces the DeSantis Administration’s record support for conserving our natural landscapes and commitment to ensuring every Floridian can visit and recreate at Florida’s state parks,” the release said. It also announced 50% discounts for annual passes to state parks for residents.
The proposal has also prompted pushback from the Florida legislature.
“As a State Senator, I am committed to preserving the unique and irreplaceable natural landscapes that make Florida so special. Today, I stand in strong opposition to the proposed expansion of state parks to include golf courses and associated facilities in our state parks, particularly in Camp Helen, Topsail Hill Preserve and Grayton Beach State Parks, which have been targeted in the initial expansion and hold a place of enormous importance to our district,” posted state Sen. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican.
“Our state parks should not be in the business of competing with private enterprise to provide lodging or other commercial amenities. Our state parks are a treasure and they should remain focused on their primary mission: offering a refuge for those who seek to experience Florida’s natural beauty in its purest form. I urge my fellow lawmakers and citizens to join me in protecting these parks from unnecessary development and ensuring that our natural heritage is preserved for all to enjoy.”
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Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch contributed to this report.
20 comments
Larry Gillis, Libertarian (Cape Coral)
August 22, 2024 at 9:17 am
Ron DeSantis makes the occasional Libertarian sound, but he will never be confused with the real McCoy.
FYI, the Platform of the Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) addresses this issue directly: ” … X. Environment …
2. State Land Privatization ….. We look forward to the day when all property not required for police and court functions are returned to private ownership and control. … We oppose the creation of new government parks or wilderness and recreation areas. Such parks and areas that already exist should be transferred to non-government ownership. Pending such transfer, their operating costs should be borne by their users rather than by taxpayers. … “
Dee
August 22, 2024 at 12:22 pm
What a crock. You must be a yankee. You’re not fit to be a Floridian.
Robin
August 25, 2024 at 3:18 am
I’m a Yankee(been visiting family since the 1960’s & retired in NE. FL) and I strongly oppose these proposed projects!
Steve OTWELL
August 22, 2024 at 10:06 am
Worse plans ever for FL State Parks. Assume an alternative motive is involved. Other than attending the very short and limited public meetings on Aug 27. Tell me what I can do and who best to contact to voice serious objections.
Meaghan Trust
August 22, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Agency Council Members
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Chair)
Mara Gambineri, Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 144
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
850-245-2044
Staff: Callie DeHaven, Division of State Lands Director
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 100
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
850-245-2025
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
George Warthen, Chief Conservation Officer
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
850-487-3796
Staff: Larame Ferry
Division of Habitat and Species Conservation
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
850-487-9185
Florida Forest Service
Rick Dolan, Director
3125 Conner Boulevard, Room 228
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
850-681-5800
Staff: Cat Ingram
Land Planning and Administration
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
850-681-5827
Florida Division of Historical Resources
Alissa Lotane, Director
500 South Bronough Street, M.S. 4
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
850-245-6333
Staff: Brandon Ackermann
B. Calvin Jones Center for Archaeology
1001 DeSoto Park Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
850-245-6334
Agency Appointee Council Members
Lynetta Usher Griner, Vice Chair (Florida Forest Service)
Griner Usher Land & Timber, Inc.
P.O. Box 1819
Chiefland, FL 32644
352-493-4221 or 352-493-2568
Bill Palmer, Ph.D., President (Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy
13093 Henry Beadel Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32312
850-893-4153 x226
Gubernatorial Appointee Council Members
Elva Peppers, President
Florida Environmental and Land Services, Inc.
221-4 Delta Court
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-385-6255
Andy
August 22, 2024 at 10:09 am
Developers have a ‘blank check’ to do whatever they want in Florida, as long as the Governor gets his contributions. Primary reason Surfside occurred. but the State instead will regulate and punish every Condominium owner in the State of Florida!
Billy Nash
August 22, 2024 at 10:37 am
This is terrible. Florida is being destroyed before our eyes. What is left of its natural beauty should not be used for golf courses and pickle ball courts. Enough with this overdevelopment of the state. DeSantis loves developers and their donations but shows little concern about leaving some wild places for the rest of us (not to mention wildlife) enjoy. I wish Florida would show him the door the way the rest of the US did!
Joe
August 22, 2024 at 10:42 am
The pristine and perfect Grayton Beach absolutely does not need pickleball courts or a disc golf course. What a stupid idea.
David Amsden
August 22, 2024 at 3:06 pm
Let’s also add the Boy Scout property in Brooksville that was left in a will to the Boy Scouts and stipulated if the Boy Scouts no longer wanted it, it should go to the people, not to the county to sell for development of apartments.
tom palmer
August 22, 2024 at 5:14 pm
What on earth were they thinking? The spin is worse. Comparing a 350-unit lodge to the Wakulla Lodge is simply dishonest. You wonder what their bottom line is if they back off and do something else that seems less harmful just to get a foot in the door.
Joan Carter
August 22, 2024 at 6:27 pm
I was a colleague of Ney Landrum, the first Florida overseer of land purchases after passage of funding for State land purchases using dedicated funds. His clear vision was acquisition of large tracts of land. He foresaw the steady attrition of beautiful tracts of pristine land. The people who think this is a good idea need to walk through the preserved lands. It’s foolish to use what we have saved to turn that land into just another place…for the sake of what? The proposals just make our public land into another commodity.
Pam Combee
August 22, 2024 at 7:22 pm
These parks belong to We The People not the politians. Our tax dollars paid for this land. This is just another ploy to make politians even more rich. Time for an audit to be done by college interns which do not have “obligations” to ant developer.
Ann Grayson
August 22, 2024 at 7:50 pm
This attempt by Ron Destructis to steal land in state parks for his developer cohorts is the most despicable thing he’s tried yet. He cares not for pristine land areas, wildlife habitat-only for money. All Floridians should rise up in the millions to defend these lands!!!
Joan Carter
August 22, 2024 at 8:17 pm
I attempted to leave a message on Mr. Wilton Simpson’s contact page —offered as one of those with concerns. When I tried to submit, my message disappeared after I was told to refresh the page. So much for contacts.
dave evans
August 22, 2024 at 9:20 pm
Golf courses, pickleball and disc courses have nothing in common with environmental conservation. There are plenty of golf courses in the state already, the developers are just looking for cheap, pristine land without having tp procure it normally. A 350 room hotel? You can imagine the sizee of the site, the parking and road “infrastructure” needed to to with that. And sewer, water, utilities, traffic, etc…. Not what a state park should invest in or support. But they sure make it sound good with all the appropriate buzz words in one sentence! “…expand public access, increase outdoor activities and provide new lodging options across Florida’s state parks—reinforcing the state’s dedication to conservation, the outdoor recreation economy and a high quality of life for Floridians.”
Megan Remick
August 23, 2024 at 2:13 am
Article correction: the Hobe Mountain Observation Tower at JD Park is NOT UNused. It is one of the most visited places in the park. Just recently, they blocked it off so you can’t go to the very top….saying it is under construction…but it is still very used…and loved.
The park was probably not allocated the money to fix it because of this proposal.
Abby Mayginnes Ramirez
August 23, 2024 at 5:49 am
Thanks for the reporting. The animals need protection!!!! We must take ACTION!
jean solomon
August 23, 2024 at 9:05 am
this scheme is for one person only,,the contracts for the development of Florida;’s State PARKS will be given to Trumpfs development company…lol, prepare for the bankruptacy of the state..your great Grand chldren will be paying off this debt.pickle ball courts????
Matt Clemons
August 24, 2024 at 7:37 pm
The Folds of Honor A “Non-Profit” 501 C 3 behind this.
Key Employees and Officers Compensation
Lt Colonel Dan Rooney Ceo & Founder $441,036
Ben Leslie (Chief Impact Officer) $242,346
Nick Nichols (Chief Growth Officer) $217,960
We can’t say Sea Level Rise?
Keith Wilson
August 24, 2024 at 8:41 pm
The unique natural beauty of Florida must be protected for those fortunate enough to enjoy it today and for those generations yet to be born. From “The Sea of Grass” to the crystal clear blue springs, we have a responsibility to preserve that which is the essence of a land’s character. Altering these gems for recreational purposes is destructive and needless. A simple walk in a pristine park will explain why…without any words necessary. “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” Thoreau
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