Latest news with #GreatOutdoorsInitiative
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawsuit: DeSantis administration retaliated after leaked development plans for state parks
A new lawsuit alleges that Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration last summer worked to keep secret a plan to build golf courses, pickleball courts and luxury hotels at nine state parks. The suit, filed in Leon County by whistleblower James Gaddis, includes details of how public protests sent the Florida Park Service's Office of Planning scrambling to rush approval of new rules to allow such development at all of the state's 175 parks. It says Gaddis was the victim of "retaliation" by DeSantis, former Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton and the department's human resources director, Jake Vick. He seeks damages of at least $100,000, among other things. Gaddis was a park planning consultant, fired last August after he leaked details of the Great Outdoors Initiative – a plan to build lodges, tennis courts, flying disc courses and other amenities at state parks. Public outrage over the proposal led the Legislature earlier this year to unanimously pass a new park protection law that DeSantis signed in May. In his complaint, Gaddis – represented by Tallahassee civil-rights attorney Marie Mattox – says he was wrongfully terminated after he wrote a letter exposing plans for the 'destruction of state parks throughout Florida.' He's protected under the state's whistleblower law, his suit says, because he "reported and disclosed violations of rules, regulations and laws, and/or malfeasance, misfeasance and/or gross misconduct to persons both inside and outside of his normal chain of command ...." A complaint in a lawsuit tells one side of a story. A DEP spokesperson said the state agency is unable to comment on pending litigation. Gaddis said he was tasked with creating 'secret maps' in August 2024 for development that he says would have destroyed 'globally significant' habitats. When given an assignment to transform 1,000 acres of scrubland in Jonathan Dickinson State Park into three golf courses, he alleges, the instructions included 'not talk to any colleagues about these plans.' Two weeks into the job, he 'felt as if he was mapping out a future crime scene,' according to the complaint. Gaddis admits he loaded maps and documents, including an explanatory memo, onto a flash drive. He passed it to an unnamed intermediary, who then gave the information to reporters. After the Tampa Bay Times broke news of the initiative, public protests swept the state and DeSantis pulled the idea from consideration. And in the face of those protests, Gaddis' suit describes a state agency in "a panic." He says Assistant Park Service Director Danielle Terrell on Aug. 14 told staff how DEP intended to get rules and plans for the Great Outdoors Initiative approved by the end of the month. The plan involved in a flurry of activity, including maps and drafts of proposed new rules to be released Aug. 26, required public hearings for the new rules to allow development on Aug. 27, and eight public hearings to be held starting Aug. 27. Staff was not to answer questions from an 'angry mob,' the complaint says, and to 'record feedback.' But the public hearings were cancelled Aug. 25 and DeSantis later dismissed the development plans as 'not ready for prime time.' Gaddis says Vick confronted him with the memo that accompanied the maps and documents that made public DEP's plans. In a recorded meeting, Gaddis admitted he wrote the memo, expressed no regrets and immediately went on administrative leave. The next day, Gaddis received a letter of termination that said he had 'intentionally released unauthorized and inaccurate information to the public.' He now says his firing was retaliation and prohibited by Florida law. The suit also seeks injunctive relief that includes Gaddis' reinstatement as a park planner, a court order mandating that DEP obey state employment laws, and an order for DEP to pay all of Gaddis' attorney fees and court costs. After his firing, Gaddis set up a GoFundMe with an initial fundraising goal of $10,000. As of June 11, he had raised nearly $258,000. His next professional goal is to make "high-quality maps of conservation lands within the State of Florida, which has given me so much to be thankful for," he wrote on his GoFundMe page. "Once I am further along with next professional steps, I will be ready to explore my options with respect to giving back and advocating for additional conservation of Florida's wild spaces, which is especially critical as our state's population continues to increase." 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 named in lawsuit over 'secret' plan to develop Florida parks
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- 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.
