Environmental activists demand Legislature do more to prevent development at state parks

Still smarting over proposed new development on state park lands last year, protestors descended on several of those protected lands demanding that the Legislature do more to prevent a repeat this year.

Legislation (SB 80, HB 209) called the “State Park Preservation Act” is currently winding through the House and Senate to protect the facilities from any more development. The bills are in response to a wildly controversial proposal in 2024 by the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration to redevelop nine state parks by building new hotels, golf courses and pickleball courts, among other amenities.

There were 16 so-called “love fests” at state parks through the weekend by activists who want legislators to tighten up proposed measures.

“These State Land Management bills as currently written (and) amended, cannot prevent the development threats (hotels, golf courses, pickle ball courts, and more) park lovers defeated last year,” said a news release from the Sierra Club, an environmental activist group.

The pushback was so heavy last year by residents that the DeSantis administration scrapped the plan.

Even though there are new measures now under consideration, some residents still say they fear there could be loopholes in the proposed legislation that could leave an opening for a new attempt to redevelop the parks. The House and Senate measures are currently winding through committee reviews in both chambers.

The House bill is slated to go before the State Affairs Committee Tuesday morning.

Despite the hearings, activists say they’ll hold similar protests this coming Saturday and Sunday to reemphasize their position before the measures go to full floor votes in both chambers. Those upcoming protests will take place at Hillsborough River State Park and Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.