07-05-2025
The futures of Florida's state parks are now more certain because of you
Those of us of a certain age know now the "Schoolhouse Rock" videos we saw as kids didn't always give us a complete picture of the subjects they covered.
In particular, that was true about the "How a Bill Becomes a Law" episode, which didn't adequately explain the role of lobbyists, political horse trading, or many of the other complicated factors in lawmaking.
However, on rare occasion, the process does work much like the upbeat cartoon characters described. The parks preservation bill recently approved by the Florida Legislature is one example:
People protested over a problem they saw with how their government was run. Legislators listened. They devised a commonsense solution, which was approved without much controversy in one 60-day legislative session.
Why, oh why, can't it always be this simple?
What a concept: Responding to public outcry
The brouhaha began last August, when a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plan to allow golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels to be built amid the tranquil natural wonders of Anastasia, Topsail Hill Preserve, Jonathan Dickinson and six other prominent state parks was leaked to the public.
The groundswell of opposition resonated throughout the state, prompting DEP to withdraw The Great Outdoors Initiative Plan and Gov. Ron DeSantis to first feign ignorance, then pretend the outrage was ginned up as part of a left-wing conspiracy.
State Sen. Gayle Harrell and Rep. John Snyder, Stuart Republicans, responded by sponsoring bills intended to prevent future developer land grabs at state legislation inspired the Florida State Parks Preservation Opinion Project, a collaboration by 17 Gannett-owned newspapers in Florida to rally support to preserve and protect our state parks.
Opinion: USA Today Network-Florida Opinion campaign to preserve and protect our state parks
The campaign included dozens of editorials, opinion columns, photos, videos, letters to the editor and more, published in newspapers and on websites throughout the state.
The legislation also was supported by various environmental and advocacy groups, who suggested tightening language Harrell and Snyder proposed.
Floridians united for a common cause
Gary Wilcox (front), of Miami, participates in a protest at the entrance of Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Hobe Sound. Rallies, billed as a State Park Lovefest, were planned Saturday at 16 state parks around Florida -- also including Fort Pierce Inlet State Park on the Treasure Coast -- as part of a statewide effort to protect state parks. Jonathan Dickinson is about a 20-minute drive from President Donald Trump's Jupiter golf club. Senate Bill 80, the State Park Preservation Act, filed by state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, would place strict limitations on development in state parks as well as outdoor activities that can be promoted at the parks such as golf, tennis, pickleball and other sports requiring a ball field.
Known as the "State Parks Preservation Act," the bill would prohibit most construction in state parks. It also would require public hearings, with ample advance notice, for changes in land management plans and compel the DEP to comply with provisions when granting certain privileges, leases, concessions and permits.
The bottom line? The bill is the first line of protection against development proposals done outside of the public's purview that would change the face and spoil the beauty of Florida's state parks.
Opinion: These Florida students want to protect our state parks. Their art shows it.
There's usually some give and take during the legislative process — which was certainly true in this case. Environmental activists fought for language they thought was necessary to prevent developers from exploiting loopholes in the bill.
The bill's prospects of approval, with the more restrictive language, seemed iffy for a while, but during the last week of the session, both houses of the Legislature unanimously approved the more restrictive version.
Unanimously. How often, in our state of diverse and sometimes competing interests, does anything win unanimous support from the Legislature — including every committee stop?
It's a testament to the high value people place on Florida's wild and unspoiled spaces. Our society may be becoming more urbanized, but there's still a part of us that yearns for places where we can connect with nature.
What happened is also a victory for citizen activism. Thousands upon thousands of Floridians mobilized to protest last year after word about the ill-fated park development plans leaked out. Many continued to pepper legislators with input throughout the legislative process, some in texts to their representatives in real time, while the bills were debated in committee.
Much credit should also go to Harrell and Snyder for their leadership. Harrell was elected to her final term as a senator last year, part of a lengthy career that also includes 16 years as a state representative.
Harrell said during her 2024 campaign this term would be her "last hurrah." This may well be the signature piece of legislation for which the veteran lawmaker is remembered.
For Snyder, this was a nice accomplishment for someone viewed as one of the Legislature's rising stars.
The bill will be forwarded to DeSantis, who said Wednesday that he will sign it.
Good. Because, given the public support behind this legislation, a veto would come at his extreme political peril.
And better yet, he should sign it with ceremony, including the legislative sponsors and some of the millions of parks advocates who helped bring awareness to this issue.
This editorial was written as part of a campaign by the USA Today Network Florida Opinion Group to support Senate Bill 80 and protect Florida's state parks from development.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: FL state parks protected from development because of you | Editorial
