Mixed reactions to Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed state park expansions

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Conservationists from north central Florida and across the state are pushing back against a plan by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection called the Great Outdoors Initiative.

Nine state parks in Florida are the target of controversial projects as part of the initiative. Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine is the park closest to Gainesville. Planned changes include a parking garage with up to 350 rooms, a disc golf course and pickleball courts.

Former Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan works for the nonprofit Trust for Public Land and is concerned about wildlife in the parks.

“It’s a really sensitive environment. Loggerhead turtles nest here. There are endangered species. It’s really a beautiful place,” Hanrahan says.

But Senator Keith Perry wants people to wait and learn more about the plans before protesting because he doesn’t think the change is big.

“Well, I think it’s unfortunate,” Perry said. “I mean, it’s at the stage where they’re taking public comment, and we have people like Audubon and the Sierra Club just coming out with obviously pretty false claims about the destruction of some state parks, and that’s not the case at all.”

Protesters gathered in St. Johns County over the weekend as frustration with these changes grows.

“The most important thing about our state parks is that they are fundamentally designed to protect resources and help people enjoy the natural environment, but also to protect endangered species and preserve our water quality,” Hanrahan explained.

“Let’s look at each individual park, let’s look at the state and its responsibilities, but back to the city and the county: These parks are there to get people outside and get them to go out and enjoy nature,” Perry said.

One state parks lover, Samantha Carrigan, just moved to Gainesville from South Florida and has visited several of the parks on the list. She says she doesn’t want to see endangered species deprived of their homes.

“That’s not a good idea, especially for Florida. We are chock full of biodiversity. It seems like there’s something alive on every square inch here, especially in parks like Jonathan Dickinson and Hillsborough State Park,” Carrigan says.

Perry says this is a great way to attract more people to state parks.

“Anastasia State Park is 16,000 acres. Compare that to Silver Springs State Park, which is over 4,000 acres. So you’re really talking about an area. Pickleball courts will take up about an acre and a half,” Perry said.

Florida DEP officials confirmed that the developer of the proposed golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park has withdrawn its application.

The public hearings scheduled for this week have been postponed until next week.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

All rights reserved.