Florida Cabinet members alarmed over development plans for state parks

Florida Cabinet members are concerned about alleged plans to allow the construction of housing and golf courses in state parks.

“Public land should be used and protected,” said Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson“We have to be really careful when we talk about building infrastructure in state parks.”

Simpson expressed concern after a report by Tampa Bay Times revealed that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had plans to build more lodges, pickleball courts and other facilities in at least nine Florida parks. Agency officials told the newspaper the plans were part of an initiative to support Florida’s “recreational economy.”

Simpson said he first heard about the plan through media reports and had “serious concerns” about the proposal.

He is not alone. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis described the proposal as a “slippery slope”.

“Current state parks have a set name, design and following for their theme or features,” Patronis said.

A public calendar indicates that the Department of Recreation and Parks will hold public meetings on changes to its management plan.

The DEP has conceptual land use maps and meeting location information related to plans for nine state parks: Hillsborough River State Park; Honeymoon Island State Park; Oleta River State Park; Jonathan Dickinson State Park; Dr. By D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park; Anastasia State Park; Camp Helen State Park; Topsail Hill Preserve State Park; And Grayton Beach State Park.

All meetings will take place on August 27th at 3pm and will last one hour each.

At each meeting, a change to the park’s land use management plan is considered.

For example, a plan for Honeymoon Island in Dunedin includes sites for the construction of four pickleball courts. The state is currently marketing this park as an “escape from the hustle and bustle of city life” and a “birdwatcher’s paradise.”

A plan for Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is more dramatic, calling for large portions of Santa Rosa Park to be used for disc golf courses and a 350-room lodge. This could require redesigning a campground and existing cabin area with more infrastructure.

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Editor of Florida Politics Peter Schorsch contributed to this report.

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