Well, that didn’t take long! Today, Florida Parks postponed their proposal to commercialize state parks, “due to overwhelming interest.”

Keep showing them your interest in this bad plan not happening. Don’t wait for the meetings; go ahead and tell them.

Follow this link for a handy form by Waterkeepers Florida to tell your statehouse delegation you don’t want these developments on top of vulnerable habitat and next to our waterways:
https://waterkeepersflorida.good.do/protectourparks/Email_State_Officials/

None of the current proposals are for parks in the Suwannee River Basin. But if these get implemented, they won’t stop.

Protect Florida Parks from Golf Courses, Hotels, apartments, Pickleball courts

According to Rachel Tucker, wfla.com, today, Meetings over controversial Florida state park plans rescheduled due to demand,

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has rescheduled its public meetings on proposed changes to state parks after pushback from both residents and officials.

The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is seeking public feedback on a proposal to build golf courses, pickleball courts and 350-room hotels at state parks from Miami to the Panhandle.

The Florida DEP pushed back the meetings “due to overwhelming interest” in the initiative, which was criticized by politicians on both sides of the aisle. They also launched a website for Floridians to give their feedback.

The meetings are expected to take place the week of September 2, but exact dates have not been announced.

The proposal announced by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection to build new sports facilities, hotels and glamping sites at nine state parks across Florida has drawn a wave of opposition, not just from nature lovers and birdwatchers but also from members of DeSantis’ Cabinet, a Republican member of Congress and conservative state lawmakers.

That includes outgoing Republican Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.

“Our vision (for state parks) did not contemplate the addition of golf courses and hotels, which in my view are not in-line with the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature,” Passidomo posted on X. “From what I know at this time, the proposal should not move forward in its current form.”

A spokesperson for DeSantis defended the plans — which are not final — ….

If you need more motivation, here are stories by Max Chesnes in the Tampa Bay Times, and Craiog Pittman in the Florida Phoenix.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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