DeSantis admin wants to put golf courses, pickleball courts and more in Florida state parks

Florida’s environmental agency unveiled major development proposals at nine state parks Wednesday in a sweeping initiative that could redefine Gov. Ron DeSantis’ conservation record and put sensitive, already imperiled habitat further at risk.

The project ideas that may lead to the most severe habitat loss include a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Florida’s Atlantic coast, which would require the removal of the iconic Hobe Mountain observation tower on protected scrub habitat and the homes of park staff members, among other park facilities, according to state documents.

The DeSantis administration also wants to build 350-room park lodges at both Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Santa Rosa Beach, according to documents uploaded to the state’s website. The list goes on: The plans call for constructing up to four pickleball courts each at seven state parks, a disc golf course at five state parks and a suite of new cabins at three parks.

In Tampa Bay, plans call for up to four pickleball courts at both Honeymoon Island State Park and Hillsborough River State Park, with the addition of a disc golf course at the latter, the draft records show.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2024/08/21/florida-state-parks-jonathan-dickinson-golf-course/

If there's one thing Florida really needs, it's another golf course.