DUNEDIN, Fla. — Last week, Florida's Department of Environmental Protection unveiled plans aimed at bringing more people to state parks. Those plans include adding pickleball courts, golf courses and lodging to about nine state parks across the Sunshine State.
Two of those parks are here in the Tampa Bay area.
Almost immediately after the plans, dubbed the "Great Outdoors Initiative," were made public, the backlash began. While the DEP said its plans are meant to expand public access and recreation opportunities across the state, those opposed to the idea say they are concerned about the potential environmental impacts.
Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club have mobilized to push back ahead of public meetings that were originally scheduled to happen this week. Other Florida leaders, including the agriculture secretary and state senate president, have also publically criticized the initiative.
Due to the immediate backlash and "overwhelming interest" in the initiative, the DEP has postponed those originally planned meetings in order to find bigger venues that will sufficiently hold the public. The DEP says new meeting dates are expected to be announced soon, likely in early September.
At least one group originally involved in bringing the above changes to a Florida state park has withdrawn its proposal. The Tuskegee Dune Foundation had submitted a "good-faith proposal" to build a golf course at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park, located in Martin County.
But on Sunday, the DEP said the Foundation had rescinded its proposal.
"While they are withdrawing their proposal, the Foundation worked with the state to pursue a project that would have created a public, world-class golf course for all, while supporting veterans, first responders and their families," state agency officials said.
Map: These Florida state parks are part of the DEP's 'Great Outdoors Initiative'
Under the proposed concepts:
- Anastasia State Park (St. Johns County) would see a 350-room lodge constructed.
- Camp Helen State Park (Bay County) would see 10 cabins constructed for lodging and “glamping.”
- Grayton Beach State Park (Walton County) would see an additional 10 cabins constructed plus a beach-access restroom
- Hillsborough River State Park (Hillsborough County) would see 4 new pickleball courts and a disc golf course
- Honeymoon Island State Park (Pinellas County) would see 4 new pickleball courts.
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Martin County) would see a public golf course
- Oleta River State Park (Miami-Dade County) would see the construction of new cabins, pickleball courts and disc golf courses.
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park (Walton County) would see the construction of a 350-room lodge, pickleball courts and a disc golf course.
- Dr. Von Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (Broward County) would see 4 new pickleball courts.