Florida’s Parks at Crossroads: A Florida bill aimed at blocking development in state parks is ready for a vote in the House. The measure, HB 209, was approved Tuesday by the House State Affairs Committee. It seeks to stop projects like golf courses and pickleball courts that many believe harm natural spaces.
Bill responds to the Past Development Plan
The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, follows public opposition to the “Great Outdoors Initiative.” That plan, introduced last year by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, called for large developments in 10 parks. It included golf courses, resort lodges, and pickleball courts. Snyder said the new bill is meant to stop “unintended development within the state park system.”
Senate Path Less Certain
While the bill is moving forward in the House, its Senate version, SB 80, still needs approval from two committees. Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, chairs one of those panels. He said Tuesday he plans to hold a hearing, but the bill was not on the agenda for the next meeting.
Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, supports parts of the proposal but added, “It’s really about achieving balance. We can have the conversation about, you know, what’s disrupting and what is not, and try to enhance that experience for Floridians.” He also noted that his wife plays pickleball.
Proposed Changes and Revisions
The original plan would have added golf to Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 350-room lodges to Anastasia and Topsail Hill Preserve state parks, and disc golf and pickleball to others. Gov. Ron DeSantis called that plan “half-baked,” and it was later withdrawn.
Snyder updated his bill Tuesday to make sure no new projects harm “natural resources, native habitats or historical sites.” The bill now blocks building sports areas like tennis courts, golf courses, ball fields, and pickleball courts.
Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades, said, “There were some loopholes in the original language. We think it had good intent. But those loopholes have been addressed.” The bill does allow small cabins for up to six people, if they fit the park’s management plan.
Support from Both Sides
Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, said the bill helps protect all 175 state parks.
“This is an example of when the public is able to shift the Legislature and really get positive changes. We don’t always see that. When you’re an environmentalist and you love conservation, you’re often on the losing end and you have to continue to fight over and over again.” – (cross)
What Comes Next?
The House is expected to vote on HB 209 soon. If passed, the focus will shift to the Senate. The final decision could shape how Florida parks are protected from development in the future.
News in Brief: Florida’s Parks at Crossroads
Florida’s House is set to vote on a bill banning golf courses, lodges, and pickleball courts in state parks. The proposal follows public outcry over a 2023 plan to develop parks. The Senate version still needs hearings. Lawmakers stress the need to protect natural areas from overdevelopment.
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