Jonathan Dickinson State Park by Jeff Biege
Update 8/29/2024
After 8 days of outrage by Floridians, DeSantis holds an unrelated press conference and is asked by the press about the plans for our state parks during questions. He answers by saying that the plans were, “half-baked and not ready for prime time” and will, “not happen this year.”
Watch his response below
Ways to stay engaged on this critical issue
1. Continue to SHARE YOUR CONCERNS on the FDEP’s survey for as long as it is live. You can simply say “no incompatible development in our state parks” for ALL nine parks.
2. Stay up to date by joining our newsletter.
On Monday, August 19th, we learned of NINE proposals to amend nine Florida state parks that would forever alter the natural landscape and passive recreational enjoyment of our treasured public lands. A leaked memo outlines the intent to expedite plans to develop golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts, and more on sensitive habitat of some of our favorite state parks. This leaked memo was backed up by a swift and fluffy press release from the FDEP with barely a mention of this and then a rapid scheduling of public meetings with little notice.
With less than a week’s notice and last minute information for the meetings, these proposals were meant to be fast-tracked with minimal public input.
The nine proposals that need to be stopped are:
These proposed changes are in direct conflict with state law guiding the Division of Recreation and Parks (Florida statute 258.037). Specifically, the policy to promote “such character as to emblemize the state’s natural values” and “enjoy these values without depleting them.” The proposed changes within Florida’s state parks do not align with the intent of the state statute or with the wishes of the thousands of Floridians and visitors who enjoy state parks for their unscathed natural landscapes.
Thankfully, Floridians know how to show up, speak out, and share their concerns. With a collective voice we are strong enough to defeat these plans and defend the encroaching development our state parks are facing.
Ways to Take Action!
SHOW UP at the meeting closest to you (meeting details coming soon) and check social for local events being organized.
SPEAK OUT Send a personal email to leaders in Tallahassee and call the Governor at (850) 717-9337
SHARE YOUR CONCERNS on the FDEP’s survey and state “no development in our state parks” for ALL nine parks.
While we all want to enjoy our beautiful parks, adding large-scale developments to these treasured spaces can have a serious impact on the very natural resources that make them special. Let’s protect what makes our natural spaces extraordinary.
Timeline of Events
Thursday, August 15th: A draft unit management plan amendment for Jonathan Dickinson State Park is leaked and distributed widely.
Monday, August 19th: A leaked memo indicating the Jonathan Dickinson State Park changes are not isolated. There are nine state parks vulnerable to mis-guided directives from the Governor’s office.
Monday, August 19th: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) releases the 2024-2025 Great Outdoors Initiative under the direction of the Governor’s office.
Tuesday, August 20th: FDEP announces public meetings throughout the state to present unit management plan amendments (changes to the state parks).
Tuesday, August 20th at 10pm: FDEP releases draft unit management plan amendments and meeting information for all nine state parks.
Tuesday, August 20th to Friday, August 23rd: Hundreds of thousands of emails are sent demanding these plans be removed from consideration. Passionate Floridians organize and plan to show up at public meetings to protest the plan amendments statewide.
Friday, August 23rd: FDEP announces that due to “overwhelming interest,” a euphemism for overwhelming outrage, in the 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative they will have to find new venues to accommodate the public.
Sunday, August 25th: News outlets across the state publish articles stating that after overwhelming public pressure, the group behind the plan to build golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, withdraws its proposal. HOWEVER, the FDEP has not removed the plan amendment from Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Wednesday, August 28th: After 8 days of outrage by Floridians, DeSantis holds an unrelated press conference and is asked by the press about the plans for our state parks during questions. He answers by saying that the plans were, “half-baked and not ready for prime time” and will, “not happen this year.”
Leave our parks alone we already paid for them. You can not sell them to the highest back door bidder..
I agree. If Governor DeSantis wants to keep his job, he needs to back off of Florida parks. He should focus on preserving our lands. We need to evict the foreigners who own land here and take it back. It seems like too much power has gone to the governors head.
I agree!
Save Lori Wilson Park and Beach
I wish I could share this to my FB page…..I don’t see a share button….I added the following comments tomy letter:
Broward County has already forever changed the landscape at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale with pickleball. I used to LOVE going to the Scottish Festival every year there, and a few years ago they moved it to Tree Tops park in Plantation, there are hardly any trees and no shade so it is very hot there, hence the reason I stopped going. WE NEED MORE TREES. PLEASE! Say NO to building. Pickleball is a fad, just like all the vacant tennis courts you see all over w/ cracked courts, broken fences, eyesores….there are MANY because it is TOO HOT TO PLAY. Soon all these pickleball courts will suffer the same fate.
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I do not want any parks turn into golf courses
Thank you
We had to know this was coming..we have a leader in Tallahassee who has no idea what these parks mean to Florida..he is definitely not an environmentalist..had the words Climate Change removed from. All Florida documents and obviously never worked outside during summer heat..reminder: that people working outside do not need water breaks…that employers don’t have to respond to water breaks..obviously employers did not abide by that ridiculous law..or we would have many dead people died from heat stroke. Hopefully his next job will be landscaping…then he can cool off in one of our beautiful state parks and enjoy the natural fauna.
Agreed. We have enough blasted golf courses in this state!!
So very true! We have had enough development. As Climate Change elevates the global temperatures, we all need to plant more trees and pollinator plants.I am sure most of us have seen the downside of over biuling. We need Nature and Nature needs us to value her gifts, as well as to protect them.
While I don’t live in the affected counties, I oppose these plans due to their environmental impact (clearing, silting, fertilizing, etc.)
Please let us know where to sign on to opposition petitions, etc.
This is a terrible idea.We need to protect our beautiful parks.Pickle ball courts would impact drainage which is already a problem.
This is NOT going to work This WILL be discontinued!
Who instituted such ideas?
Do not ruin our parks and green spaces with buildings and commercial enterprises.
I am strongly opposed to the changes proposed for the state parks.
The plans go against state laws.
Stop the development of any of our Florida State Parks.
Leave our habitat alone!! Stop destroying our parks!!
Certainly more info is so needed in order for ANY change to proposed sites in our State Parks, please.
NO
So sad that we are destroying our lands and pushing the animals out of their habitat. Greed!
The parks were established to be a natural habitat and environment to be protected and enjoyed by all people. Paving over some of the land for development and commercial interests ignores the original idea.
Golf courses and 300 room hotels is not what a State park should be used for, this is crazy. What about the wildlife? The land clearing, maintenance expense, fertilizer, lawn mowers all day, is NOT congruent with preservation.A few cabins would be nice or even a small lodge up to 50 rooms. These would allow for those that don’t camp to enjoy a stay at our beautiful parks. Our parks don’t need to be competing with Disney resorts and country clubs.
This is so wrong. We have the most beautiful parks and beaches. This is why tourists come here. Leave our beaches alone.
Do not destroy our parks and wildlife! Don’t let money talk.
You are leaving nothing for the animals to survive in, these areas should never be changed, Greed, GREED, GREED JUST STOP WITH THE BUILDING AND TRASHING LAND.
Sad that we are destroying our natural resources.
We have enough golf courses. Save our wildlife and wet lands.
State parks are for the people and the animals that call it home. Not to be sold off for development.
Leave our parks alone! Your suppose to be protecting them not destroying them!!
This was proposed years ago by some rep out of Lake County. Not only was he in favor of these changes but he also recommended cattle grazing on state park land. Really, really dumb.
Please leave things as is and not destroy the natural beauty of nature.
Our politicians need to protect what little is left of our beautiful state.That includes ALL STATE PARKS!
Serve the people not the developers!
Shame on you for not protecting our parks! We have the most Beautiful beaches and parks. Keep greed and big development off and out of our parks!!!
Shame on you DeSantis for letting this happen on your watch!!!
Our state parks are intended to protect nature for all visitors to enjoy! Should not be considered for greedy development.
Florida just does know how to leave things alone that are already working! The governor has just got to go!
It’s all about tourism and money
If Florida State Parks need more income to stay open, maybe they should advertise better, by touting the natural amenities found in each unique park. We don’t want another pickle ball court, disc golf course or lodge in OUR state Parks.
Keep our FL state parks as natural undeveloped sanctuaries for both Floridians and out of state visitors to appreciate and enjoy. We do not want our irreplaceable natural areas destroyed for developments such as pickle ball courts, golf courses, and hotels.
This proposal to develop inside FL State Parks is counter to what our visitors want. Once the natural habitat is destroyed for a golf courses, and other hard infrastructure it cannot be replaced.
What a horrible idea. This plan is based upon greed and a complete disrespect for our environmental lands. Trying to push this through on a short timeline with little time for public reaction screams of contempt for the public good.
I love our natural parks and have a goal to visit each one. I do not want the development of golf courses to spoil these beautiful habitats for future generations!
Please do not commercialize our state parks. They are meant to be natural for the protection of all nature!!
Leave it all alone. There is so much Flooding going on everywhere, stop, stop stop.
I am strongly opposed to this ill conceived plan to add extensive recreational development to unique environmental areas to our Florida state parks. Please do not ruin land that represents our heritiage and intent to be saved for our future generations. DO NOT MESS with our Florida State Park land!
Leave our parks alone!
State parks are to be parks forever. Use the uninhabited strip malls and old uninhabited buildings. Leave our parks and greenbelts alone. Just because there’s undeveloped areas along our road ways doesn’t mean our parks where our wildlife still thrive should be developed. Everything is getting out of control, let it be.
Please tell your friends, Join Florida State Parks Guardians Facebook page, go to one of the meetings on Tuesday, contact newpapers, radio stations and television stations and ask them to cover this story. Tampa Bay Times recent story says legislatures are against this. We can fight back if we get the word out!
More Ron (worst Yale graduate in the history of Yale) thinking
What is wrong with the government in the state of Florida. Do you honestly think destroying more land here makes any sense? Have you not seen the damage done by all the development that is going on across this state? Do you have no respect for this earth at all? What is this desire to destroy all the natural beauty that surrounds us(or used to in some areas). DO NOT DESTROY ANYMORE NATURAL PRESERVES OR STATE PARKS–THEY WERE SET ASIDE FOR ALL TO ENJOY AND THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROTECTED AREAS!
STOP STOP STOP THIS INSANE GREED!!!!
Yes. Leave our parks alone! Thank you.
There’s plenty of abandoned properties to be used. How about renovate the blight.
You can help!!! Call Governor DeSantis’s office and let them know you oppose proposed developments to OUR State parks call (850) 717-9337 option 1. Be polite, we don’t have much time.
We are totally against the development of 2 new golf courses.
I am a former resident of Florida and have family in in Florida. Come on now! Quit taking ALL of God’s natural beauty away from us to enjoy because you’re using the Almighty Dollar as your God. What is there going to be to leave to my grandchildren??
That is very selfish and representing the wishes of only a few!
Why are we taking away our beautiful nature for “sporting” events? There are enough golf courses in Florida to frequent, as well as tennis and pickle ball courts AND Florida is filled with hotels/motels as accommodations. Campgrounds are great and a way to “enjoy” Beautiful Florida in the “wilderness”…..
Please rethink these ideas.
I agree with all the reasons mentioned. We’re already living in a concrete jungle. We need all the natural areas left to be preserved
God save our parks & natural areas.
Our state parks are there for us to enjoy the beauty of wildlife and the nature within. They are special places NOT for destruction and development. STOP the greed!!!
No corporate business nor state development plan should touch OUR natural state parks!! They are all of OURS to enjoy, protect and pass on to our future generations in their natural, pristine state. Unite fellow Floridians and let us keep those greedy paws off what it not theirs to disrupt and destroy!!
I strongly oppose to this massive destruction of the little nature and habitat we have left. The parks are for the community to enjoy and pass to the next generation. Rest nature and leave the parks untouched.
Follow the money. Somebody is being paid of for this land grab. We do not need any of what makes Florida unique to be transformed in this manner. Developers are killing floridas beauty.
I have the privilege to call the emerald coast or panhandle of Florida my home for 30 plus years. The only place that I can take my kids to see what the old Florida beaches and landscape looked like is the state parks. You want to erase that for disc golf or more cabins for people that don’t care about our state. I understand the want to do this but it’s not necessary other than someone wanting to destroy our landscape forever. Please stop while still have some dunes left to show the younger generations and not just parking spaces or pickle ball courts.
Please leave our Parks alone. These are nice getaway parks. They don’t have food vendors or facilities like miniature golf and pickleball courts and parking lots to accommodate attractions the governor wants to build. It will ruin these quiet off the main drag parks. The kind of people that go to the parks as they are now, are the people that want peace and quiet and nature. They don’t want to see all the trees cut down and all the Greenscape, plants and shrubs, Stripped Away off the sand so they can lay down blacktop for all the cars that will need to be parked for pickleball, miniature golf and food serving facilities. Whether it be a mobile food vendor or an established building set up on a cement slab. It’s going to change the whole atmosphere of the type of Park that these are. I used to live in clearwater. Honeymoon Island Park was an out of the way place with a few picnic tables hidden in nooks and crannies where one or two cars could park and have a picnic. These types of parks for not full of bells and whistles. From Charlotte County we have Busch Gardens in Tampa and several theme parks to include Disney world, Epcot, SeaWorld and other attractions all in a small area. We don’t need the quiet nature parks turned into crowded areas and activities like pickleball and miniature golf requiring a considerable amount of money to build and a good chunk of the physical land for all the additional parking that will be required. And then as someone else has mentioned I’m sure pickleball and another new miniature golf facility will lose its main interest in a year or two. So in addition to ruining the parks for people that aren’t looking to go to a crowded Busch Gardens or Disney now we have miniature theme parks with a little bit of nature if any of it is left. I guess the governor thinks he needs to compensate for what he did to Disney. Or maybe he sees this as a way of taking business away from the major theme parks. Which considering how much of a major employer Disney World is, creating any competition for them is another illustration of how our governor is not thinking about the future and all the people Disney World employees. Please leave my quiet nature parks alone. And thank you governor for giving the public a 6 day notice on social media of a town hall meeting of which has to be attended in person in order to voice your opinion. This is just like a concealed carry law that Governor DeSantis enacted, to make it easier for people to carry concealed weapons without having to take a class. He pulled out law off with very little notification to the public. Please leave our state parks alone. Thank you.
Please preserve our state parks.
Please leave Florida’s State Parks alone. Don’t add pickle ball courts or any of the other things that have been suggested. Keep our parks as natural as possible. Florida is having constant development and we NEED our state parks to provide areas that are undeveloped and natural. Don’t destroy our beautiful state parks with more development as has been proposed. We need places with minimal development. Leave our parks as they are. They are exactly the way they need to be . Florida is being over developed everywhere. We NEED natural, undeveloped parks as rampant development is everywhere in Florida. SAVE OUR STATE PARKS. SAVE FLORIDA! NO MORE DEVELOPMENT IN FLORIDA’S STATE PARKS! PLEASE! KEEP THEM WITHOUT ANY KIND OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT! Thank you .
State Parks are State Parks for a reason to preserve the nature within them🤦♂️
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for working so hard to protect these fragile ecosystems that once destroyed are never coming back. These state parks are not only the home of various species of animals, but they also play a role in our health. Anywhere from air quality, water quality, quality of life, mental health, etc. With so many already developed areas in Florida that could use the love, attention and fresh concrete – there is no need to destroy a protected state park. Once the door is opened, it will all fall like dominos. As a lifelong Floridian, I can not comprehend who would ever destroy and develope any part of a state/national park. I love how everyone throughout this state, regardless of party, has joined forces to work together in support of our parks. What true Floridians are all about. Let’s banned together, we will not stop until each park is protected.
Thank you. Paving over our state has created flooding ..there is no place for run offs..rain water does not go into the ground..it just pools and floods. Sounds like Someone owes big favors to big donations…the state parks in Florida do not belong to a political group. We have to be guardians to the wild life fauna and peaceful areas of Our state.
I’m a Native born and, raised and, I am very disgusted by this and, all the new developments going on they need to put a halt on all new construction.
These parks were set aside for ecological and environmental preservation. There are plenty of abandoned golf courses and incomplete developments that can be used, let’s look at those options. A great one would be the Compound near Orlando where dead bodies keep turning up. There are plenty of golf courses that have failed due to lack of use and/or membership. There are sufficient parks and recreation areas that exist for Pickle ball, enough so far as to be able to hold championships. Show me the studies that Frisbie Golf is still in demand.
How dare you defy the people of Fl by thinking you can push this through. Florida has more golf courses than is needed and not used during our hot months. State Parks are not yours to be changed at your discretion to satisfy greedy developers. STOP TH I S INSANITY NOW. THESE PARKS BELONG TO THE PUBLIC. HANDS OFF.
No new developments in our State Parks. Let people use the facilities that are already here.
With all the development happening in our beautiful interior, soon parks will be our only respite and place of ease. Do not take this away too. Perhaps they should look at some of the defunct shopping centers or other ruined places for their “improvements “.
Where do you draw the line? Preservation is more important than money or golf. Once you destroy these lands there is no turning back. I have lived my whole life in FL and it was a place to learn and enjoy the unique ecosystem that Florida has. This mass development everywhere has displaced and devastated many habitats. I see Gopher tortoises and bobcats dead on the roads. Bears are being killed unnecessarily because their homes were replaced with concrete. Roads are flooding more because the rain has no where to be absorbed with the land paved over. The river water I grew up swimming in gets dangerous levels of bacteria some that eat our flesh. We get Green algae blooms in the water from pesticides that suffocate and kill the fish.Now you want to pave over more habitats!! Haven’t you all done enough destruction? Where does it stop? Go turn one of the dilapidated malls into a golf course. We don’t need any malls either. I’m sick of seeing the trees replaced by concrete. We don’t want more buildings or golf courses. We don’t want more people here! We need to stop this massive growth in Florida now. The whole state needs protection from the greed of humans. Keep Florida Green!!
I sent the following to DeSantis, Scott and Rubio:
I voted for you. Your plan to add golf courses, pickleball courts, and hotels to our state parks is wrong. It is not what citizens of Florida want.
Florida is overrun with golf courses, pickleball courts and resorts. Development runs rampant in Florida. Florida State Parks are all that is left of “the real Florida”. Do not mess with them at the peril of your political career. This idea needs to be canceled.
Got money to spend? Invest in upgrades to Florida State Parks camping areas, boardwalks, bathrooms, etc. Otherwise leave our perfectly beautiful Florida State Parks alone.
Teddy Roosevelt had great vision. He said, “HERE IS YOUR COUNTRY. CHERISH THESE NATURAL WONDERS. DO NOT LET SELFISH MEN AND GREEDY INTERESTS SKIN YOUR COUNTRY OF ITS BEAUTY, ITS RICHES, OR ITS ROMANCE. – Theodore Roosevelt
The newly proposed Florida state park development plans for our existing state parks are horrific. These plans include building pickle ball courts, golf courses (and “related amenities”), lodging & hotels up to 350 rooms, removal of existing observation towers, etc., and undisclosed and vague “overnight and recreational facilities”. It is a fact skyscapers and million dollar condos that benefit the wealthy and stakeholders will follow.
Our state parks are already accessible for all to enjoy the “real” Florida with wildlife, walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, educational resources, etc. They are already accessible to those who cannot afford our theme parks, museums, etc.
The “Great outdoor initiative” the governor and Fla. Dept.of Environmental Protection are in violation of existing policies and we must stop this commerial industrialization of our beautiful state parks.
Humans, you cannot continue to destroy your habitat, the planet. Other animals have the good sense to not foul their own nest or destroy nature. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?! Planning to move to another planet when you are finished trashing this one? I think you will find the Universe has different plans.
“You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
-Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell
We also need to put a halt on development.
Thought is not given to the repercussions of overbuilding and citifying our suburbs. Green spaces are precious and should also be protected.
I think there are places better suited to make golf courses other than our natural wildlife areas. We need to keep these natural habitats for our next generation to be able to see how wildlife lives were tearing down all the beaches the wildlife there has nowhere else to go the state parks are what is keeping it alive too many condos hotels, businesses are already filling up the view of the beaches. You can’t even see the beach anymore just by riding down the road we are overtaking all of God‘s beautiful work. The last thing we need is to take over the state parks where people can go to see areas in their natural state
Leave our parks natural!!
Mr. DeSantis, the people have spoken. Didn’t you hear them (us)? Leave Florida’s Parks alone. Thx
Leave Florida’s parks in they’re natural state for our children and they’re children! too much of Florida’s natural lands have succumbed to corperate greed.