DeSantis admin wants to put golf courses, pickleball courts and more in Florida state parks

[Zorro]

Florida’s environmental agency unveiled major development proposals at nine state parks Wednesday in a sweeping initiative that could redefine Gov. Ron DeSantis’ conservation record and put sensitive, already imperiled habitat further at risk.

The project ideas that may lead to the most severe habitat loss include a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Florida’s Atlantic coast, which would require the removal of the iconic Hobe Mountain observation tower on protected scrub habitat and the homes of park staff members, among other park facilities, 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: The plans call for constructing up to four pickleball courts each at seven state parks, a disc golf course at five state parks and a suite of new cabins at three parks.

In Tampa Bay, plans call for up to four pickleball courts at both Honeymoon Island State Park and Hillsborough River State Park, with the addition of a disc golf course at the latter, the draft records show.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2024/08/21/florida-state-parks-jonathan-dickinson-golf-course/

If there's one thing Florida really needs, it's another golf course.

[jls4561]

1. Two questions:

First, what companies will get the construction contracts?

Second, when will the libraries be demolished to build a new golf course?

[rockbluff botanist]

2. Time to fight again

As a botanist who lives up the road from Florida's wildest intact state park (it's located in the panhandle) I have fought some mighty battles in my career in the defense of Florida state parks. Republican governors always try to kill our state parks because they don't pay their way. I cannot successfully express the depth of my hatred for republicans! Their motto: Pave it over.

Our parks are still places that reflect wild Florida. Not like Alabama's awful parks that are ruined by commercial development.

[radical noodle]

3. Because there aren't enough golf courses

and pickleball courts here already? There are about 50 golf courses in The Villages alone.