DEP delays meetings on converting state parks to pickleball courts and golf courses

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Officials want suggestions on larger venues to discuss the proposals, which are receiving bipartisan pushback.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is delaying meetings on adding golf courses and lodging to several state parks. Meetings were rescheduled from Aug. 27 to the week of Sept. 2 as the agency seeks out larger venues.

The move comes amid bipartisan public uproar about plans to allow more active uses at nine state parks. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration unveiled plans earlier this week as part of a Great Outdoors Initiative, billing it as an effort 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.”

But when details were published on the plans, members of the Cabinet immediately balked, and leaders in the Legislature blasted the plan as a misuse of state conservation lands.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, the first high-profile Republican to raise questions about the initiative, has rallied opposition to attend workshops across the state on the specific park plan updates.

“This isn’t a done deal folks. Show up and make your voices heard,” Simpson posted on X, with a link to the eight originally scheduled meetings.

After criticism that some of the meetings had been scheduled at small venues hours away from the parks in question, DEP is now seeking public suggestions for the best time and place to hear from citizens.

“Public input is an important and valued part of all DEP decision-making and activities, and we encourage the public to submit written comments on the draft proposals through this portal,” reads an online DEP survey.

The agency has a dedicated website showing the proposed updates for parks, including: 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.

For example, changes at Anastasia State Park would include construction of a park lodge with 350 rooms near a public beach access, as well as a disc golf course and pickleball courts near Salt Run.

More humble plans at Camp Helen State Park call for 10 new cabins and “glamping” sites near Lake Powell.

The most controversial plan appears to be one to put multiple golf courses at Jonathan Dickson State Park in Stuart.

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7 comments

Deplorable Pinellas
August 23, 2024 at 8:02 pm

Native vegetation in untouched land is vital to shore birds, keystone species and water mitigation. We don’t need Pickleball at Honeymoon Island. Go to the YMCA and leave our gopher tortoises alone.
- SUPER ELVIS [FKA EARL]
  August 23, 2024 at 9:11 pm
  
  Sage Wisdom there Deplorable,
  Being from Pinellas odds are aproximently 89.8732% that you are a Dook 4 Brains Lefty intent on voteing for “Giggles Harris” and her Dook 4 Brains “VEEP” which looks A Lot like FRED FLINTSTONE.
  On this State Parks issue I, SUPER ELVIS agree with you. Its the stupidest initative to ever come out of FLORIDA’S STATE GOVORNMENT EVER.
  SO IN CLOSING:
  RELAX YOUR SPHINCTER, Deplorable Pinellas, as I, SUPER ELVIS, will be meeting with Ron and his Lovely Wife, Casey, over the weekend to “NIP IT IN THE BUD” and to cast all the blaime for this “BOONDOGGLE” on Nikki Fried and all the other Dook 4 Brains Lefty Politicos in Florida to put this Crazy State Parks initiave to bed once and for all.
  Thank you Deplorable Pinellas for pledgeing your POTUS VOTE to Trump and joining my group of ELVIS’ BESTY LEFTYS.
  ELVIS
Jojo
August 24, 2024 at 8:13 am

What part of PROTECTION did the Commissioner of the FDEP miss ?
Oh, excuse me….nothing.
He’s either of the “ own the environmental libs” ilk or he’s too gutless to stand up to the governor, where I’m sure this insane idea eminated.
Jojo
August 25, 2024 at 9:09 am

What a truly idiotic idea coming out of the governor’s office. Has DeSantes or the head of the Florida Dept of Environmental PROTECTION even been to a state park?
“ Let’s just pave over paradise and own the libs” seems to be their mindset
Free Free Free
August 25, 2024 at 12:52 pm

It’s the “free state of Florida”, that means Ron Disastrous is free to do want he wants
Delusions
August 25, 2024 at 3:40 pm

Plans for money trap. You need to spend the Cash . Roads and stores with the same old chips
Lucy Anderson
August 25, 2024 at 3:46 pm

Amen to most of the above. If only big money had listened to we locals reference Brightline think how many lives would not have ended. Hope we can scare away a Stuart train station, speaking of ruining local treasures.