BREAKING NEWS! – Florida State Parks Are In Jeopardy – Again

BREAKING NEWS! – Florida State Parks Are In Jeopardy – Again. If you have not been on social media or watched the news here in Florida in the last 10 days you may not have heard that our greedy politicians and the friends the commercial developers have decided it is in the best interests of our Florida State Parks to now have 350 room lodges, golf courses and pickle ball courts within their boundaries! I mean there is nothing that says being environmentally aware and keeping our wildlife safe that putting up big hotesl and golf courses all over their protected land areas.

Well, it took a very diligent soul who keeps up with each of the websites of our Florida Department of Environmental Protection (The government agency in charge of our Florida State Parks) who announced quite unceremoniously that they were going to allow developers into the parks to add these commercial properties. It is bad enough we cannot get enough funding to help keep our current state public land areas maintained and our park personnel paid a living wage or even having enough park personnel to do all the jobs that are currently required. It is not enough that we have dedicated volunteers who come and spend their time, talent and heart helping those park personnel all throughout the year. I want to know what happened to the mandate, “PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT” and all those creatures who depend on their habitats to be available for them to survive.

Excerpt From the Florida State Parks Foundation

“Due to the overwhelming interest with the 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative, DEP is looking for new venues to accommodate the public.
New meeting dates will be announced soon, with meetings expected the week of Sept. 2, 2024.
The Foundation encourages everyone who loves Florida’s state parks to participate in these public meetings or to share their input via email.

Visit the DEP events calendar (floridadep.gov/events) for more information on each meeting, its location and the proposed amendments.
Email comments to:
– Public.Services@FloridaDEP.gov
– AnastasiaSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– CampHelenSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– Dr.VonD.MizellEulaJohnsonSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– HillsboroughRiverSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– HoneymoonIslandSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– JonathanDickinsonSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– OletaRiverSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
– WaltonCountySPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov
[Just an FYI: There is not Walton County State Park but there is:
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park,
Eden Gardens State Park,
Grayton Beach State Park,
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park,
Rocky Bayou State Park,
Henderson Beach State Park]

Elizabeth Harris
Email: info@floridastateparksfoundation.org
1700 North Monroe Street, Suite 11 #200
Tallahassee Florida 32303-5535
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