Rubio and Scott call acceleration of Florida State Park golf course plan “ridiculous”

In a scathing letter to Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday, Republican U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, along with local authorities, criticized the rushed process behind state plans to build golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

The one-hour hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. during which the public could comment was “completely ridiculous,” officials said, adding that “not a single” member of the state committee responsible for voting on the plan would attend the meeting to hear public concerns.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection plans to hold nearly simultaneous meetings across the state Tuesday afternoon to allow the public to comment on plans to add golf courses, 350-room lodges, pickleball courts, disc golf courses and more to nine state parks. After those meetings, a state committee called the Acquisition and Restoration Council will vote on whether to move forward with the project.

“We believe that every voting member of the (Acquisition and Restoration Council) must attend a public hearing before taking action on the proposal,” the letter said. “A one-hour meeting on a weekday afternoon when most people are at work will not be sufficient.”

The letter focuses primarily on criticizing the process for giving the public a chance to comment on the one park proposal, rather than more broadly commenting on the DeSantis administration’s plans for infrastructure at a total of nine parks. Since they were unveiled earlier this week, the plans have sparked an unusually swift and scathing wave of bipartisan backlash.

Neither DeSantis’ office nor the Department of Environmental Protection immediately responded to emails seeking comment.

This is not the first time Scott has faced public outrage over this issue. In 2011, when Scott was governor, he was involved in a similar plan to build golf courses in state parks, the Tampa Bay Times reported at the time. The proposed legislation reportedly came about after discussions between golfer Jack Nicklaus and Scott, Nicklaus’ lobbyist said at the time.

Nicklaus representatives told the Times this week that the golfer was not involved in the current proposals.

The letter called for two meetings, one in Stuart and one in Jupiter, “both as long as it takes to hear all concerns.” It suggested they be held after Thanksgiving, when more part-time residents will be spending the winter in Florida, to give the process more “credibility.”

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Stuart), who represents the district where Jonathan Dickinson State Park is located, also signed the letter. Earlier this week, Mast urged voting members of the Acquisition and Restoration Council to attend Tuesday’s public meeting so they can meet face-to-face with residents affected by the proposed development. In a phone interview Friday, Mast said he had yet to receive a response from a single council member.

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“You want to try to develop something without disturbing it? How about just not disturbing it,” Mast said.

In addition to Scott, Rubio and Mast, 12 other Treasure Coast officials signed the letter, including State Senator Gayle Harrell, Representatives Toby Overdorf and John Snyder, and county commissioners from Martin and Palm Beach counties.

Below are the locations for each state park proposal meeting, scheduled for August 27 between 3 and 4 p.m.

• 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, The Lake House at the Watercolor Inn, 238 Watercolor Blvd. West, Santa Rosa Beach

This is breaking news. Check back later for updates.