Latest news with #GreatOutdoorsInitiative
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
We protected Florida parks, but recent proposals make our state untrustworthy
I just wanted to thank you for the big part you played helping to get our parks protected. I'm hoping, as we all are, that this outcome will send a strong message to those who seek to sell off our precious state parks. Unfortunately, there was a recent proposed (land swap) involving Guana River that was attempted, and I'm sure you are aware of it. I'm afraid that this will not be the last attempt to swindle the citizens of Florida out of what has been set aside for all to enjoy for generations to come. When I was a ranger at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph's Peninsula State Park, there was a land swap that was played up as a big deal for Florida. Getting a huge amount of land in a land swap deal! I forget what the ratio was, but it was similar to the Guana River backdoor deal. Between the coastal town of Port St. Joe and the turn onto Cape San Blas there was a lot of low-lying coastline which included maritime hammocks and salt marsh mix. Prime habitat for all sorts of birds and other wildlife, as well as all the marine species that lived there. The state traded this prime coastal habitat for large tracts of land inland. This coastal strand was turned into more coastal beach homes, and was all developed. I kept hearing about what a great deal this was for the citizens of Florida. So my wife and I went over to this newly acquired tract of land. What it consisted of was acres and acres of land which had been stripped of any timber of value by St. Joe Paper Co. What they didn't want had been mowed down in the process; ugly land that was low, swampy and bug-infested that had basically been raped and plundered of anything of value. This was the much-hyped land swap? I strongly suspect this is what the swap at Guana River would have looked like. Anytime the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or any state agency proposes a land swap we are all getting screwed. Letters: Do you care about protecting Florida's state parks? Here's what you said. Right now, the state is laying waste to hundreds of acres at Bald Point State Park in the name of habitat restoration. Allegedly, restoring the hardwood mixed with pine back to pine flatwoods, which now look like hell. In my opinion, it looks mighty suspicious. It looks more like housing development or golf course land clearing than habitat restoration. After the "Great Outdoors Initiative", I personally don't trust anything that DEP is involved with or gets their hands on. Dana Hunsley lives in Panacea, Fla. He wrote this for The Palm Beach Post. Join the Conversation: The Palm Beach Post is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Email us at letters@ Letters are subject to editing, must not exceed 200 words and must include your name, address and a daytime phone number to confirm the letter is for publication. We only publish names and cities with the letters. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida parks are still under threat despite protection | Opinion
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Florida governor signs protection bill, meaning no golf courses in state parks
Florida governor signs protection bill, meaning no golf courses in state parks Show Caption Hide Caption Does Florida Parks bill offers lesson in how politics should work From proposal to develop to protest to bill for protection, Florida Today's John A. Torres asks our panel if this is how local and state politics should work Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill protecting state parks from commercial development. The bill, passed unanimously by the legislature, restricts development like golf courses and luxury lodges in favor of activities like hiking. The legislation was introduced after public outcry against a previous plan to commercialize state parks. As he said he would, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a measure to protect Florida's 175 state parks from development such as golf courses, luxury lodges and pickleball and tennis courts. The news came from a message on a legislative website: "Approved by Governor on Thursday, May 22, 2025 4:43 PM." There was no public bill signing event and no immediate comment from his office. Regardless, the signing on May 22 is likely the final chapter in a saga that began last summer: DeSantis' Department of Environmental Protection announced a plan to commercialize Florida's 175 state parks with custom amenities at beloved natural icons like Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, and Topsail Hill Preserve in Walton County. Critics quickly likened the plan to "paving over paradise," and DeSantis himself shelved the Great Outdoors Initiative, saying it included "a lot of that stuff was just half-baked and was not ready for prime time." In a stunning rebuke to the DeSantis administration, two Stuart Republicans – Sen. Gayle Harrell and Rep. John Snyder – took the lead in carrying the legislation (HB 209). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, among many others – 48 in all from both parties, or almost a third of the Legislature. And the bill passed both chambers unanimously. The Harrell-Snyder legislation, named the State Parks Preservation Act, mandates that DEP focus park management on passive traditional recreational activities that leaves the land mostly undisturbed. And lawmakers define what those activities are, like hiking. HB-209 was co-sponsored by Representative John Snyder (R-Stuart), Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart), and Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R-District 91). The bill passed both legislative chambers unanimously and mandates public transparency through required hearings and digital access to updated land management plans —ensuring public oversight and protection of Florida's natural and historic resources. 'The passage of this bill ensures that our state parks are protected forever. This is democracy at work. The voices of the people have been heard,' Harrell said in a statement. Lawmakers also created a straitjacket of regulations to maintain DEP's focus on preservation by requiring the department to ask for public input to develop park management plans that must be updated every ten years. Any changes to those plans would require two public hearings while they are being developed and written. The new law was endorsed by Audubon Florida, a conservation group that helped create the first state park in 1916 (Royal Park, now part of the Everglades National Park). 'This may be one of the most monumental environmental laws Florida has ever passed,' said Rep. Gossett-Seidman. 'Our parks are not for sale—they're sacred public spaces filled with natural beauty that must be protected for future generations. The new law also renames the St. Marks River Preserve State Park in Leon and Jefferson counties to the "Ney Landrum State Park" in honor of the late director emeritus of Florida State Parks who passed away in 2017. Landrum served as state parks director 1970–89. (This story was updated to add new information.) James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. DeSantis quietly signs proposal barring golf courses, hotels in state parks
St Petersburg resident Caroline Chomaniacs at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin on Aug. 27, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill born out of the backlash against his administration's plan last summer to build golf courses, hotels, and pickleball courts at nine state parks. The Legislature unanimously approved HB 209, which prohibits construction of specified sporting facilities and public lodgings in state parks, such as golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and ball fields. Southeast Republican Rep. John Snyder pitched the proposal following backlash and protests from Republicans and Democrats alike, who opposed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's leaked plan to build such facilities. While state officials dropped the plan, DeSantis tried to distance himself from it. He also told reporters during a press conference on May 7 that he would sign the bill. The governor's office announced his approval of the bill among a list of 17 bills DeSantis signed Thursday. 'What began as the so-called 'Great Outdoors Initiative' to develop our parks has ended in a landmark law ensuring they are protected forever. This achievement is nothing short of historic,' Florida's chapter of the Sierra Club posted on Facebook. The new law requires the state to announce public hearings regarding projects in state parks 30 days in advance. The department had scheduled meetings to gather public feedback on the same date and time across the nine state parks, prompting further outrage and causing the postponement of those meetings. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Park Preservation Act signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Florida will ban putting developments like hotels and golf courses in state parks. Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the 'State Park Preservation Act' into law. It comes after his administration created a plan to add developments to state parks. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] That included plans for pickleball courts and a lodge at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County. Mass protests led to that plan being withdrawn and a bill being filed. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Sierra Club Florida officials issued the following statements about the act being signed into law: 'The signing of the State Park Preservation Act is a monumental victory for Florida's beloved state parks—and a powerful testament to what Floridians can achieve when we stand together. In just ten months, we transformed a reckless plan to pave over our parks into a law that protects them forever. This achievement is nothing short of historic. It sends a clear message: our elected leaders answer to the people, not to developers. This win belongs to every Floridian who marched, rallied, spoke out, and stood firm in defense of our wild places. Together, we have built one of the most powerful grassroots movements in Florida's history, and demonstrated that even in a politically volatile state like ours, we can work together to deliver lasting change.' – Kristine Cunningham, Executive Committee Chair, Sierra Club Florida 'Since August, Sierra Club Florida and its partners and allies have been on the frontlines of the fight to save our state parks, and today, we are thrilled to officially declare: VICTORY! What started as the 'Great Outdoors Initiative' to develop our parks, has ended with a State Park Preservation Act that will ensure they are permanently protected. This landmark law is the direct result of the grassroots power and unwavering dedication of Floridians from all political affiliations who stood together to say: Our parks are not for sale. Today, we celebrate a turning point not just for our environment, but for the future of Florida.' – Javier Estevez, Political and Legislative Director, Sierra Club Florida Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida state parks saved from development as Gov. DeSantis signs protection bill
As he said he would, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a measure to protect Florida's 175 state parks from development such as golf courses, luxury lodges and pickleball and tennis courts. The news came from a message on a legislative website: "Approved by Governor on Thursday, May 22, 2025 4:43 PM." There was no public bill signing event and no immediate comment from his office. Regardless, the signing on May 22 is likely the final chapter in a saga that began last summer: DeSantis' Department of Environmental Protection announced a plan to commercialize Florida's 175 state parks with custom amenities at beloved natural icons like Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, and Topsail Hill Preserve in Walton County. Critics quickly likened the plan to "paving over paradise," and DeSantis himself shelved the Great Outdoors Initiative, saying it included "a lot of that stuff was just half-baked and was not ready for prime time." In a stunning rebuke to the DeSantis administration, two Stuart Republicans – Sen. Gayle Harrell and Rep. John Snyder – took the lead in carrying the legislation (HB 209). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, among many others – 48 in all from both parties, or almost a third of the Legislature. And the bill passed both chambers unanimously. The Harrell-Snyder legislation, named the State Parks Preservation Act, mandates that DEP focus park management on passive traditional recreational activities that leaves the land mostly undisturbed. And lawmakers define what those activities are, like hiking. Lawmakers also created a straitjacket of regulations to maintain DEP's focus on preservation by requiring the department to ask for public input to develop park management plans that must be updated every ten years. Any changes to those plans would require two public hearings while they are being developed and written. The new law was endorsed by Audubon Florida, a conservation group that helped create the first state park in 1916 (Royal Park, now part of the Everglades National Park). The new law also renames the St. Marks River Preserve State Park in Leon and Jefferson counties to the "Ney Landrum State Park" in honor of the late director emeritus of Florida State Parks who passed away in 2017. Landrum served as state parks director 1970–89. (This story was updated to add new information.) James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis signs new law to protect Florida parks from development
