TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a rare display of bipartisan resistance, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is facing opposition over a recently announced plan to add golf courses and lodging to several famous Florida parks.
The proposal quickly drew criticism, not only from environmental groups but also from leading Republican politicians, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Passidomo and Representative Matt Gaetz.
The Department of Environmental Protection’s proposal, called the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” would add pickleball courts, golf courses and additional cabins and lodges at state parks and beaches across the state.
Simpson said he hadn’t even heard of the proposal until outlets like The Tampa Bay Times broke the fast-moving plans that will be the subject of public hearings next week. The state announced the meetings Tuesday.
“Public lands should be enjoyed and protected, but we have to be very careful when we talk about building infrastructure in state parks,” Simpson said in a statement. “Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should.”
DeSantis has not yet publicly commented on the initiative. Jeremy Redfern, the governor’s spokesman, said in an email that the state Department of Environmental Protection and the parks division are “reviewing recommendations for ways to improve Florida’s parks to make them more attractive to visitors.”
He said the initial proposals were based on public input and that “not all of them may be approved”. Final decisions would only be made after the public had had the opportunity to comment and assess the results.
“Teddy Roosevelt believed that public parks were for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and we agree with him,” Redfern said. “No government has done more than we must to conserve Florida’s natural resources, grow protected areas and keep our environment pristine. But it’s high time we make public lands more accessible to the public.”
DEP also responded on social media, saying there was “a lot of confusion” about the proposals. The agency said on X that there was high demand for overnight stays at several state parks and additional recreational opportunities such as pickleball at Grayton Beach State Park.
“Pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in the U.S., so why not add it to one of our most visited parks?” the agency said.
The reaction did not appear to assuage critics like Passidomo, who said in a social media post that the administration’s proposal conflicts with the “peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature” that state parks are intended to provide, as envisioned by lawmakers. “I am open to other ideas, but from what I know at this time, the proposal should not move forward in its current form,” she said.
Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City), whose district includes some of the parks included in the initiative, said in a social media post that he “strongly opposes” the plan.
“Our state parks should not compete with private enterprises to provide lodging or other commercial amenities,” Trumbull wrote. “Our state parks are a treasure and they should remain focused on their primary mission: to provide a haven for those who wish to experience Florida’s natural beauty in its purest form.”
Democrats have also voiced their opposition to the plan. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat who will be sworn in to the state Senate in November, called it a “reckless desecration of public lands.”
