DeSantis administration wants to build golf courses, pickleball courts and more in Florida’s state parks

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday unveiled major development plans for nine state parks in a sweeping initiative that could redefine Governor Ron DeSantis’ record on conservation and further endanger fragile, already-threatened habitats.

Among the project ideas that could result in the most severe habitat loss is a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Florida’s Atlantic coast. That would require, among other things, the demolition of the iconic Hobe Mountain observation tower in a protected scrubland area and park staff homes, according to state documents.

The DeSantis administration also wants to build 350-room park lodges at both Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Santa Rosa Beach, according to documents uploaded to the state’s website. The list goes on: Plans call for building up to four pickleball courts each at seven state parks, a disc golf course at five state parks and a number of new cabins at three parks.

In Tampa Bay, plans are in place for up to four pickleball courts at both Honeymoon Island State Park and Hillsborough River State Park, with the latter adding a disc golf course, according to design documents.

The state agency is giving the public six days to familiarize itself with the park plans before holding simultaneous, apparently in-person meetings across the state. All meetings are scheduled for Aug. 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. Agendas obtained by the Tampa Bay Times from the Tallahassee parks office are not very detailed, but show there will be a brief presentation followed by a public comment period.

As news of the plans spread late Tuesday, a storm of public outrage erupted. Protesters stood outside Jonathan Dickinson with signs reading “Stop the Golf Courses” and environmental groups mobilized their audiences with email newsletters, social media posts and videos.

Eric Draper, director of Florida State Parks from 2017 to 2021, said it appears the state’s environmental agency is bypassing legal processes and the park system’s internal operations manual for updating park management plans.

“This appears to be something that was planned in secret, and it does not appear to have involved the hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers in the parks, the civic support organizations or the many people who helped create and develop Florida’s award-winning park system,” Draper said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

Before the EPA formally introduced its proposed changes, Draper said, staff should have convened a citizens’ advisory committee made up of representatives from other state agencies and state parks employees. That committee should have then met and held a public hearing.

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“This appears to be a process that deliberately seeks to avoid public participation. The point of the law is to encourage public participation,” Draper said.

What are the changes?

According to state documents, these are the planned changes in nine state parks in Florida:

• Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Public golf courses and other facilities, including the demolition of the Hobe Mountain Observation Tower, an existing park entrance, staff housing, and more.

A park lodge with 350 rooms, up to four pickleball courts and a disc golf course.

• Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

A park lodge with 350 rooms, up to four pickleball courts and a disc golf course.

Up to 10 cabins, a restroom with beach access, up to four pickleball courts, a disc golf course.

• Hillsborough River State Park

Up to four pickleball courts, a disc golf course.

• Honeymoon Island State Park

Up to four pickleball courts.

Up to 10 cabins or glamping sites, up to four pickleball courts, a disc golf course.

• Dr. By D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Up to four pickleball courts.

Up to 10 cabins or a glamping area.

State organizes public meetings

Park officials at several locations contacted by the Times earlier this week said they had not heard of any planned changes. For example, when we contacted Honeymoon Island park manager Don Bergeron by phone Monday afternoon, he said he had not heard of pickleball courts and was unaware of a planned proposal to build them at Honeymoon Island State Park.

“There will be no pickleball court,” he said. When reached by phone again Wednesday morning after the state announced its plans, Bergeron said he had just learned of the proposal but declined to comment further.

Florida state law requires management plans for individual state parks to be updated at least every 10 years, but the majority of parks where changes are proposed have current management plans. Two state parks, Honeymoon Island and Oleta River, did not update their management plans until 2022, state records show. The state wants to build pickleball courts at both parks.

This isn’t the first time a golf course has been proposed at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. In 2011, lawmakers introduced a bill that would have allowed famed golfer Jack Nicklaus to build golf courses in state parks. A bill introduced by then-Rep. Patrick Rooney Jr. named Jonathan Dickinson as one of the parks in need of a golf course, the Times reported at the time. Public outcry prompted lawmakers to withdraw their plans a week after they were introduced.

DeSantis is known in political circles as a golf lover and received a $28,000 golf simulator from a wealthy donor.

“State parks are supposed to be the real Florida. God help us if the real Florida becomes just pickleball courts and golf courses,” said Julie Wraithmell, executive director of Audubon Florida. She said she was encouraged by the outpouring of support behind the opposition to the plan. “These are the people who make living in Florida the incredible experience that it is.”

Below are the locations of the meetings scheduled for August 27 regarding the state park proposals:

• Hillsborough River State Park, Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, Community Room D
• Honeymoon Island State Park, The District, 11141 US 19 N., Suite 204, Clearwater
• Oleta River State Park, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, Kovens Conference Center, Room 114, 3000 NE 151 Street North, Miami.
• Jonathan Dickinson State Park, The Flagler of Stuart, 201 SW Flagler Ave., River Room, Stuart
• Dr. By D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Downtown Event Center, 416 NE First St., Fort Lauderdale, Auditorium, Building C, second floor (Enter through Main Entrance B – clearly marked on the outside of the building.)
• Anastasia State Park, First Coast Technical College, The Character Counts Conference Center, Building C, 2980 Collins Ave., St. Augustine
• Camp Helen State Park, Lyndell Conference Center, 423 Lyndell Lane, Panama City Beach
• Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park, Watercolor Inn & Resort, Watercolor LakeHouse, 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach