Florida Department of Environmental Protection proposing major changes to various State Parks throughout Florida

[Teresa]

: The "Great Outdoors Initiative," which includes proposed development on nine protected Florida state parks has been withdrawn -- announced via August 28 press conference.

Follow @conservationflorida & stay tuned for updates.

We are continuing to do what we have always done: .

To get involved, check out conservationfla.org

 

[Teresa]

Amid statewide backlash, DeSantis calls on DEP to put Florida state park plans on hold​

Gov. Ron DeSantis is shelving – at least until next year – his administration’s plan to put golf course, pickleball courts and lodges in some state parks.

At an event in Polk County on Wednesday, he said he told Department of Environmental Protection officials to rework the proposal, released last week, after it generated intense bipartisan pushback.

"It was not approved by me, I never saw that. They're going back to the drawing board," DeSantis told reporters. "I'd rather not spend any money on this. If people don’t want improvements then don’t do it. That’ll be something that citizens will be able to do."

The governor's daily schedule for April 10 shows he met "with Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney," a charitable group for veterans that previously looked into putting golf courses in Florida state parks.

"They’re not going to do anything this year," DeSantis added Wednesday, referring to DEP. "They're going to go back and basically listen to folks."

More...

Amid statewide backlash, DeSantis calls on DEP to put Florida state park plans on hold

The Great Outdoors Initiative aimed to add more campsites, cabins and lodges to state parks as well as pickleball courts, golf and disc golf courses.

www.tallahassee.com

 

[Teresa]

EDITORIALS

DeSantis administration is learning what happens when you mess with Florida state parks

Opinion BY THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD UPDATED AUGUST 28, 2024 2:02 PM

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s proposal to add pickleball courts and other recreational amenities to state parks such as the Oleta River State Park in Miami-Dade has caused controversy. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got a taste of bipartisanship in recent weeks in the form of fierce pushback against his administration’s proposal to build golf courses, pickleball courts and lodging at the state’s beloved parks.

Tree-hugging liberals and MAGA Republicans can agree that the mission of state parks is to be a refuge to enjoy and learn about Florida’s natural habitat, waterways and forests, not to be profit-focused or recreational spaces that interfere with the people’s ability to peacefully enjoy nature.

The public can also sense when there appears to be an effort to keep them in the dark.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection originally unveiled its proposal to add amenities to nine parks just one week before public meetings were scheduled on the matter. All nine individual meetings were scheduled across the state on the same day and time, taking away environmental groups’ ability to organize to give their input.

Faced with public outcry, the DEP postponed the meetings, but that didn’t quell the opposition; protests were held on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, DeSantis acquiesced and announced his administration was dropping the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” saying, “If people don’t want improvements, then we won’t do them,” the Herald reported.

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article291548390.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Jane]

Tree-hugging liberals and MAGA Republicans can agree that the mission of state parks is to be a refuge to enjoy and learn about Florida’s natural habitat, waterways and forests, not to be profit-focused or recreational spaces that interfere with the people’s ability to peacefully enjoy nature.

That means no highways either!!!

 

[UpNorth]

Guess it’s just a matter of perspective. For all the conspiracy theorists and “they’re so evil” chanters, it took what a week and the government folks decide to can this? In other words they listened to people? Definitely wouldn’t have had such an outcome in much the rest of the US of A.

 

[bob1]

Guess it’s just a matter of perspective. For all the conspiracy theorists and “they’re so evil” chanters, it took what a week and the government folks decide to can this? In other words they listened to people? Definitely wouldn’t have had such an outcome in much the rest of the US of A.

More like smacked down rather than "listening".

 

[UpNorth]

More like smacked down rather than "listening".

We can use whatever feel good adjectives suite us but after less than a couple weeks and largely a bunch of internet disgruntleds going wild, they took a step back and listened to people. This doesn’t happened very often anymore. It’s quite rare. So they deserve credit.

Most government related ideas start off well intentioned but execution wise are disastrous because all the good execution people are in private sector. Golf courses are horrible for the environment and 95% are horrible businesses. Putting a mega hotel in Topsail is like putting a church next to a brothel. Doesn’t matter how awesome it might be, it just doesn’t fit. But the idea of investing in state parks is a good one and making them more attractive and accessible to a wider range of people isn’t wrong either. So hopefully they think things through a little better and come back with something a little more viable.

 

[PoppaJ]

 

[Lake View Too]

And don't forget he said he knew nothing about it. Possibly the most blatant lie he has told in a long time.

 

[Matt J]

If he uses the word narrative you have to take a shot and know there's a coverup.