The DEP coined a fine euphemism to make themselves look better when they cloaked criticism as “overwhelming interest.” You could also call it “outrage” at our loose-cannon governor’s latest hair-brained scheme to create more revenue from state parks by making them into amusement parks.
Not surprising, they showed once again their disregard for the environment as well as their disassociation from the will and interest of the public.
They have no clue.
The State has a long history of miscalculating what the people of Florida want. They also have a history of dirty tricks and elaborate schemes to hoodwink the public when they (the State) want something and the people don’t.
So here we go.
The State cannot be trusted.
Just one example: The DEP/State purports to protect our springs and rivers, but covertly allows them to be killed off by over-pumping and over-fertilizing in order to support industry.
Read the original article here in the Tallahassee Democrat.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
After flood of criticism, Florida delays meetings on state park plans to add golf, hotels
Amid a wave of criticism, the state Department of Environmental Protection has pushed back a series of meetings about a controversial proposal to add lodges, pickleball and golf at state parks.
Eight meetings had been scheduled for Tuesday at sites throughout the state, but the department said Friday in a post on the social-media site X that new meeting dates will be announced for the week of Sept. 2.
“We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate,” the department said. The post said the agency was looking for new venues to accommodate the public.
The proposal, dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” has drawn opposition from Republican and Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups.
The proposed changes, which would affect nine parks, include lodges of up to 350 rooms, pickleball courts, disc golf courses and golf courses.
The initiative proposes a lodge of up to 350 rooms, along with four pickleball courts and a disc golf course at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County.
Plans for Camp Helen State Park in Bay County and Grayton Beach State Park in Walton County each include the addition of 10 cabins. Camp Helen State Park could also get a “glamping” area. Glamping is essentially a combination of the words glamorous and camping.
The initiative also proposes:
- Ten additional cabins, four pickleball courts and a disc golf course at Oleta River State Park in Miami-Dade County.
- A lodge with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County.
- Four pickleball courts at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Broward County.
- A disc golf course and up to four pickleball courts at Hillsborough River State Park in Hillsborough County.
Who runs Florida State Parks? What we know about the DEP proposal for golf courses, hotels High schools to Congress: Rising concern about Jonathan Dickinson State Park development Florida GOP lawmakers blast DEP plan to build golf courses, lodges, more in state parks Latest bad plan for Florida state parks? Golf courses, pickleball courts, big hotels. Florida state parks could face major changes under new glamping, golf, pickleball proposal Here’s who will decide fate of Florida state park golf courses Hotel, pickleball and disc golf Anastasia Park? Reaction in St. Johns County is fierce
