“Because Florida state parks are just what they ought to be: numerous, unsullied, and wild. They should not be marred by big business investors looking to make a profit.”
~Jim Harper
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection wants to change 9 State Parks throughout Florida, including adding lodges, pickleboard courts & golf courses & disc golf fields. Florida already has more golf courses than any other state in the country & some of them are falling into disrepair. You can read about this plan here.
These parks provide critical habitat for many native species. This could have devastating consequences for our state environmentally, financially & culturally. How dangerous is this plan? Click here.
DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have put together a list of sites where you can go to get information as well as links to online surveys, petitions & people to call & email. It is important that we all DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like, comment, share your little hearts out to keep the discussion prominent in the FB algorithm.
This page is pretty chunky. Do as much as you can. When you get tired or discouraged, think of these guys.
Please ensure that if you should speak with Park personnel, that you are extra kind & polite to them. They are not the targets here & many of their hearts are broken by this proposal. They just aren’t allowed speak about it.
1. FDEP has opened an online survey for public comments. Comment. Share the link.
2. Email your protest (politely, please) to the actual decision makers. Just tell them what you think, send to yourself & paste the list below into a BCC. (Thanks to Stephen Humphrey)
Here are their addresses.
AnastasiaSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov,
JonathanDickinsonSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov, WaltonCountySPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov, CampHelenSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov,
HillsboroughRiverSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov, HoneymoonIslandSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov, Dr.VonD.MizellEulaJohnsonSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov,
OletaRiverSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
DEP Secretary-shawn.hamilton@floridadep.gov
SIGN PETITIONS
1. Audubon Florida
They are concerned about the threat to our bird population. So am I!
2. Florida Wildlife Federation
Follow this link to voice your concerns about these proposals & the lack of public participation, to the Governor, the Secretary of FDEP, and your state representatives. They provide a customizable email to which you can add your personal connection to Florida’s State Parks. Speak out & help them understand how important this issue is to you. They want your support in the next election!
3. Change.org ~Stop the Great Outdoors Initiative: Save Florida’s State Parks from Harmful Developments
A very popular petition. Please sign it!
4. Change.org~ Protect Jonathan Dickinson State Park: stop the golf courses!
5. Change.or~ Save and Protect All 9 Florida State Parks
6. From the University of Miami’s Environmental Law Society.
Directly to the Governor.
7. Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber Petition
8. Center for Biological Diversity
Protect Endangered Species in Florida State Parks
PICK UP THE PHONE!
1.Call the Florida State Park Hotline & tell them what you think about DeSantis’ Great Outdoors Initiative, during regular business hours. 850.245.2157, option #3.
2. Division of State Lands, Office of Environmental Services
And give these folks a ringy-dingy. I’m sure that they would lo-o-o-ove to hear from you. 850.245.2555
3. Find your local representative, based on your address.
4. Don’t forget these folks:
Governor Ron DeSantis
850.717.9337
Heck, drop the good ol’ boy a line too.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary
Shawn Hamilton (current Secretary, as of the latest update)
850.245.2118
Mara Gambineri, Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation
850.245.2043
FIND OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They postponed the initial meetings & as of August 27, they have not rescheduled. Here’s how you can get info on the meetings as it is released. You can also email these folks 48 hours after the meetings to publicly comment.
JonathanDickinsonSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.org
OletaRiverSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
Dr.DonV.MizellEulaJohnsonSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.org
HillsboroughRiverSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
CampHelenSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
waltoncountySPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
HoneymoonIslandSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
AnastasiaSPpublicmeeting@floridadep.gov
AND…
Here’s where you can access all the gory deet’s on the proposed changes for each park.
- Honeymoon Island State Park:
Proposed changes: Pickleball courts
- Hillsborough River State Park
Proposed changes: Pickleball courts and a disc golf course
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park & Grayton Beach State Park
Proposed changes at Topsail Hill: Pickleball courts, a disc golf course, a park lodge with up to 350 rooms
Proposed changes at Grayson Beach: Pickleball courts, a disc golf course, 10 new cabins, a new restroom
4. Camp Helen State Park
Proposed changes: New cabins and/or ‘glamping’ sites
- Anastasia State Park
Proposed Changes: Pickleball courts, a disc golf course and a lodge with up to 350 rooms - Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Proposed changes: Pickleball courts
8. Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Proposed changes to over 1000 acres: Two 18-hole golf courses, one 9-hole golf course, removal of Hobe Mountain Observation Tower
9. Oleta River State Park
Proposed changes: Pickleball courts and a disc golf course
FACEBOOK PAGES
Florida State Parks Foundation
Follow, comment & like. Vigorously.
Florida Wildlife Federation
Like, comment & share their posts.
FACEBOOK GROUPS
Please refrain from partisan bashing when you post or comment in these groups. There are people of each party who are opposing this initiative. We are on the same team & need to stay united.
Exploring Florida State Parks, the Real Florida
Join, post, like comment & share.
Florida Native Plant Society
Join, comment, like & share.
Same deal.
Florida State Parks
And, do it again!
Protect Florida State Parks from Golf, Hotels, etc.
Yep, here too.
WHAT’S YOUR LOCAL PARK?
Protect Hillsborough River State Park
Protect Jonathan Dickinson State Park
HELP ME EXPAND THESE LISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know that there are more local parks’ pages, etc. This is just a quick & dirty attempt to inspire you to do something!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please let me know what I have missed.
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