The Florida House made a decisive move on Thursday, passing a bill designed to shield state parks from the encroachment of pickleball courts, golf courses, and hotel developments—plans that had sparked significant public uproar the previous summer. This legislation, having successfully cleared the House with unanimous support, now awaits Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature. The governor’s office has not yet communicated whether he will approve the bill. Despite previously distancing himself from these controversial development plans, Governor DeSantis maintains authority over state agencies, appointing their leaders. The situation has placed Republican lawmakers in a challenging position, as they typically advocate for DeSantis’ policy agenda, yet also face mounting pressure concerning his environmental conservation initiatives.
State Representative John Snyder has highlighted the bill’s strong stance on preserving state park integrity. He emphasized the intent to safeguard these natural treasures for future generations, ensuring parks continue to be an asset for millions of residents and tourists. The bill, while stopping short of prohibiting all development, mandates that any new projects align with “conservation-based recreational uses.” This means new ventures should facilitate activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, horseback riding, nature study, and other similar pursuits, as detailed in the House’s analysis.
The bill underwent further bolstering through a Senate amendment, which also included the renaming of a state park in Tallahassee. The controversial discussions surrounding park developments came into the limelight following a leak last August of the Great Outdoors Initiative, which signaled possible recreational developments within state parks. This prompted widespread protests across the state, with activists rallying under banners like “Parks Over Profit” and “Save Don’t Pave,” advocating for the preservation of parks.
In response to public dismay, Governor DeSantis instructed the Department of Environmental Protection to reassess their proposals. The ecosystem of the agency saw a significant change when then-Secretary Shawn Hamilton resigned amid growing bipartisan condemnation of the initiative. His departure led to the appointment of Alexis Lambert as the new head in November. With the new bill now in motion, Florida’s state parks have a clearer path forward, focused on protection and sustainable use, in line with the public’s environmental values.