Governor of Florida at Ron DeSantis Press Conference – Courtesy: Shutterstock-Photo by YES Market Media
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to develop public parks with commercial endeavors, such as golf courses, pickleball courts, and massive hotels, is facing strong resistance from all political stripes. However, a major backer has stepped out, putting the plan on hold.
The impeccable Jonathan Dickinson State Park in southeast Florida is no longer being pursued by one party for golf courses, as the Department of Environmental Protection verified via email. The supporter, the nonprofit Tuskegee Dunes Foundation, withdrew its request over the weekend, prompting the government to release this statement.
According to DEP spokesperson Alexandra Kuchta, “this project will be removed from agency review” in the email.
Regarding DEP’s overall “Great Outdoors Initiative,” which includes a range of initiatives at nine state parks enabling visitors to enjoy popular places, it was unclear on Monday what effect the Dickinson decision may have, according to officials.
“It’s time we opened up public lands to the public,” DeSantis’ press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, wrote on the social media platform X.
However, the DEP canceled hearings that were scheduled for Tuesday, one hour at each site, in the middle of the afternoon when many people are at work, due to the overwhelming public reaction following the plan’s release last week. Instead, they decided to move the hearings to a time after Labor Day. When questioned on Monday about the specifics of the upcoming hearing, including whether they will proceed at all, officials did not immediately reply.
The opposition appeared from every angle. In a letter, Republican senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio joined Republican representative Brian Mast in arguing that the short window of time was insufficient to properly disclose the plans. The concepts are “outrageous,” according to Democratic Representative Kathy Castor, who stated on social media that they are based on laws that “prioritize profits over our planet.”
Weekend rallies across the nine parks drew hundreds of participants, many of whom carried posters adorned with wildlife artwork created by Tampa-based artist Veronica Steiner. In an interview, she stated that political and philosophical divides are irrelevant when it comes to preserving Florida’s parks.
According to Steiner, “I don’t think this is like a red or blue issue.” “Putting politics aside, I believe that everyone who was born and raised in Florida has a responsibility to protect the environment. It is imperative that everyone work to safeguard their natural resources.
The notion of using state parks to generate additional income by offering golf, hotels, and other attractions where public lands are used for private benefit has been floated by Republican administrations before. However, prior concepts—including one that Scott had supported as governor—were promptly abandoned in response to popular outcry.
The involvement of the Tuskegee Dunes Foundation, which claimed in a previous statement that the golf courses in Dickinson Park would “tell the story” of the Tuskegee Airmen, a groundbreaking Black regiment in World War II, raises even another concern over DeSantis’ proposals. The money raised will benefit Folds of Honor, a different charity that awards scholarships to first responders and members of the armed forces.
According to the original statement from Tuskegee Dunes, the golf course proposal would avoid ecologically delicate areas of Dickinson Park, which are home to endangered animals like the scrub jay. However, the protests grew louder after that.
In a recent statement, they stated, “We have received clear feedback that Jonathan Dickinson State Park is not the right location.” “We will not proceed with construction within the cherished Jonathan Dickinson State Park.”
Environmental organizations declare that they will not stop opposing park construction.
According to a statement on Audubon Florida’s website, “Florida has no shortage of places to swing a golf club, sample the continental breakfast, or try your hand at pickleball. However, opportunities to spot the deep blue feathers of a Florida scrub jay, witness the miracle of neotropical bird migration, or experience Florida in all its natural beauty are becoming increasingly rare.”
Stories that matter are our priority. At Florida Insider, we make sure that the information we provide our readers is accurate, easy-to-read, and informative. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.