Opponents rallied Tuesday in Tallahassee against a plan to put golf courses, lodges and pickleball courts in state parks. | Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
Published on August 29, 2024 at 6:13 pm
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday that it has withdrawn a controversial proposal to add hotels, golf courses and pickleball courts at state parks.
The official announcement came after Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that a plan to develop nine state parks was “half-baked” and not “ready for prime time.”
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The proposal called for a 350-room lodge, pickleball courts and a disc golf course at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine. The plans caused an uproar in the community, with many calling the development plan “unnecessary” and “misguided.”
DeSantis said he did not approve the plan and the Department of Environmental Protection would go back to the drawing board.
All scheduled meetings for the plan also were canceled Thursday, News4Jax reported.
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The Department of Environmental Protection announced the “Great Outdoors Initiative” on Aug. 19. The department said the decision to withdraw the plan came at the governor’s direction and after feedback from the public.
“We will shift to discussions with our local park managers and will revisit any park improvements, if needed, next year,” an spokesperson said.
Once details of the plans emerged last week, thousands across the state staged protests in opposition. Lawmakers from both parties said they were blindsided and spoke out against the plan.
It caught many Florida residents and leaders off guard and led to local elected officials holding a news conference and local activities protesting.
“Our state parks give us a window into that version of Florida where you can wet a line and catch a redfish or go on a hike and see a great blue heron,” said Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz stood against the proposed plans. Gaetz said proposals like these have a process, and people’s voices were ultimately heard.
News4JAX asked if the process was done legally.
“I can’t say there was any nefarious conduct in the consternation of this, but I do believe that its review by the public, and the scrutiny that media organizations such as yours have rightly applied, has made the awareness about this really drive the opposition,” Gaetz said.
The pressure was also applied by former Florida Gov. and current U.Ss Sen. Rick Scott.
Before the plan was taken off the table, Scott joined fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in penning a letter to the state asking that the Acquisition and Restoration Council, which ultimately would have voted on the changes, to be at the public meetings held for each park.
“When you get elected, people don’t have to agree with everything you’re doing. Give them a chance to tell you why they believe the way you do,” Scott said.
“I think when you set up these councils and commissions that have broad authority to act in the name of our state government, it gets away from the type of transparency and accountability,” Gaetz said.
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
