State's Parks Overhaul Sparks Outrage, Golf Course Plans Dropped

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has postponed public meetings scheduled for Tuesday to discuss its "Great Outdoors Initiative," which has sparked controversy over plans to add recreational facilities to several state parks. The initiative, which was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times last week, includes proposals to build three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, as well as pickleball, disc golf, and paddling facilities at eight other state parks.

In response to the overwhelming public interest in the initiative, the FDEP announced on Friday afternoon that it is seeking new venues to accommodate the public's comments. The agency emphasized the importance of public input in its decision-making process, stating that "public input is vital to DEP decision-making." Despite the postponement of the meetings... the FDEP has made a dedicated webpage available for Floridians to submit written comments on the draft proposals.

The agency has yet to announce specific dates and locations for the rescheduled meetings, which are expected to begin next week. The proposed changes to the state parks have been met with bipartisan criticism, with hundreds of people protesting at Anastasia Park in St. Augustine and Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin on Sunday.

The foundation behind the proposed golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, "Tuskegee Dunes," "has also withdrawn its application for the golf course proposal." In a statement... the foundation acknowledged that it had underestimated the local community's opposition to the plan and appreciated the clarity provided by the public's feedback. The foundation stated that it will not pursue building at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

This information was obtained from the Florida Phoenix.

Reference: Found here

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has postponed meetings scheduled on Tuesday throughout the state for public comment on its controversial "Great Outdoors Initiative," which originally called for adding three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, plus pickleball, disc golf, and paddling facilities at eight other state parks.
"Due to the overwhelming interest with the 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative, DEP is looking for new venues to accommodate the public," the agency announced on X on Friday afternoon. "We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate. Public input is vital to DEP decision-making."