UPDATE: Public Outcry Prompts Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to Rethink State Park Proposals

Floridians have spoken.

This past week, we reported on Florida's plan to install golf courses, pickleball courts, and other recreational facilities in several state parks across the state.

Fast forward to Wednesday, and those plans seem to be changing or maybe scrapped altogether.

'Half-baked and not ready'

After three days of vocal protests at the state parks in question across the Sunshine State, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the contentious proposal on Wednesday, emphasizing that the state plans to "go back and listen to folks," acknowledging that much of the proposal was "half-baked and not ready for prime time."

This statement comes a week after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released a controversial plan proposing adding golf courses, pickleball courts, 350-room hotels, and other attractions to various state parks.

The proposal has sparked bipartisan criticism across the state.

"They’re not doing anything this year," DeSantis stated.

The plan 'was leaked'

Speaking at a news conference in Winter Haven, the Governor clarified, "This is something that was leaked. It was not approved by me. … They (the DEP) are going back to the drawing board. Here’s the thing, I’d rather not spend any money on this. If people don’t want improvements, then don’t do it.”

Many critics argue that these plans would not be "improvements," instead claiming they would disrupt wildlife habitats and some of Florida's most beautiful and pristine lands. Additionally, they contend that adding golf, disc golf, and pickleball facilities would stray from the parks’ mission of providing nature-based recreation.

The DEP’s mission statement for state parks focuses on "preserving, interpreting, and restoring natural and cultural resources while providing resource-based recreation."

The Florida Park Service (FPS) also aims to balance preserving natural resources with providing public access for outdoor recreation. DeSantis reinforced this, saying, "On the state parks, if there does need to be any improvements, we’re not going to take away any green space."

The proposed golf and disc golf courses would be constructed on forested land, which serves as crucial wildlife habitat.

The aspect of the proposal that drew the most bipartisan criticism was the plan to build three golf courses within Jonathan Dickinson State Park. This initiative was connected to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that uses golf to raise funds for the families of fallen and injured service members and first responders.

DeSantis explained that Folds of Honor had submitted an unvetted proposal to transform what he described as an "abandoned military base in Martin County." This base is located within Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

The proposed golf courses would have occupied 1,000 acres of the park’s 10,000-acre expanse, an area home to threatened species such as scrub-jays and gopher tortoises. Notably, the park is already surrounded by 14 golf courses within a four-mile radius.

'Some [of the controversy] was misrepresented'

DeSantis noted that the proposal aimed to "convert it into something that can be really nice, that would make the general public be able to afford it, and take the proceeds and use it to fund the scholarships."

The Governor also claimed that the coverage surrounding his and Folds of Honor’s intentions had been misleading. "Some [of the controversy] was misrepresented, as if they were going to try to take away all this unspoiled land. No, there were almost 1,000 buildings on that base back in the day," he clarified.

Before concluding his remarks, DeSantis firmly stated, "We’re not getting into the golf course business in Florida."

Last week, DeSantis’ spokesman, Jeremy Redfern, defended the proposal, stating that it was intended to make the parks "more visitor-friendly."

Of course, after the public outcry, this is all easy to say. It's hard to imagine they'll be able to move forward with the proposal as is, and we wouldn't be surprised if it's scrapped completely.