UPDATE: Governor DeSantis has confirmed that these plans will be reworked and come back for public comment next year. Thank you to all those who spoke out to protect Florida's state parks!
A full list of anticipated park changes is available here.
Maps of proposals are available here (scroll down to "Great Outdoors Initiative").
What You Need to Know
State parks have always balanced nature-based recreation with resource protection, and Florida’s is the only state park system in the country to win the gold medal for state parks FOUR TIMES. State parks protect Florida's most scenic landscapes, safeguarding resources not only for wildlife, but also for water quality, fire protection, flood control, drinking water supply, and more. Often they protect some of the last, best remaining examples of rare habitats and views left in our rapidly urbanizing state. Many of these parks are already operating at peak visitation within communities that have ample lodging, golf courses, and pickleball courts.
Florida has no shortage of places to swing a golf club, sample the continental breakfast, or try your hand at pickleball—but increasingly rare are the opportunities to spot the deep blue feathers of a Florida Scrub-Jay, witness the miracle of neotropical bird migration, or experience Florida in all its natural beauty.
Anastasia State Park: Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- A park lodge with up to 350 rooms in the maritime hammock
- A disc golf course in the maritime hammock
- Pickleball courts in the maritime hammock
Jonathan Dickinson State Park: Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- An 18-hole and 9-hole golf course in the Atlantic Ridge scrub community east of the Brightline rail track, encompassing roughly 550 acres
- An 18-hole golf course in the Atlantic Ridge scrub west of the Brightline rail track, encompassing roughly 500 acres
Grayton Beach and Topsail Hill Preserve State Parks: Meeting TBD
TOPSAIL PROPOSAL:
- A park lodge with up to 350 rooms
- A disc golf course in the scrubby flatwoods south of the cabin area
- Pickleball courts
GRAYTON PROPOSAL:
- A new restroom at the beach access area near the cabins
- 10 new cabins
- A disc golf course
- Pickleball courts
Dr. Von Mizell – Eula Johnson State Park: Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- Pickleball courts
Camp Helen State Park: Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- New cabins and glamping
Hillsborough River State Park:Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- A disc golf course
- Pickleball courts
Honeymoon Island State Park: Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- Pickleball courts
Oleta River State Park: Meeting TBD
PROPOSAL:
- Disc golf course
- Pickleball courts
- Cabins
