On Monday, the DeSantis administration announced the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” which includes plans to add golf courses and other resort-type amenities to some Florida state parks. That plan was immediately met with opposition from the general public and environmentalists alike.

In addition to increasing the number of campsites, cabins and lodges on park property, the initiative will increase the number of outdoor recreation opportunities available at Florida’s state parks, including pickleball, disc golf, golf and paddling.

DEP Announces 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks

In the press release, DEP also noted that Florida’s 175 state parks attracted nearly 30 million visitors in the 2022-23 fiscal year, generating $3.6 billion in economic impact while supporting over 50,000 jobs. 

1000 Friends of Florida said state parks offer passive outdoor recreational options. “They are not competitors for golf courses or other private recreational complexes, which are available throughout the state.”

Notably, Florida has over 1,400 public golf courses scattered throughout the state and more than 1,100 pickleball courts.

1000 Friends of Florida also noted that a new golf course at Martin County’s Jonathan Dickinson State Park would likely introduce chemicals into the ecosystem there. “This is the treasure of the Treasure Coast. The herbicides that are required for a golf course would be terrible for this kind of fragile environment,” they said on the X platform this week.

“Something like a golf course going in would clear cut that habitat for the wildlife that call this home,” Casey Darling Kniffin of the Florida Wildlife Federation said of the plan.

Public Reaction

The public has been quick to echo the environmentalists’ concerns. “Florida has plenty of artificial places for people to visit like theme parks, golf clubs, hotels, pools, and so on. We need to leave natural areas alone. Stop deforesting Florida’s natural habitat for profit,” said Fish McNeal on Facebook. His concerns were echoed by many comments across the spectrum of Florida’s demographics.

Tony Sitko noted on Facebook that this plan has been rejected before. “Flashback: In 2011, there was a brief push to let legendary golfer and golf-course designer Jack Nicklaus build golf courses on state parks. The idea was to promote tourism and mirror the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, according to WUSF. Lawmakers withdrew the proposal after immediate public outcry.”

For its part, Florida DEP released a “Fact Check” to counter what it views as confusion and misinformation. “Dr. Von. D Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is in the heart of one of Florida’s busiest regions. Converting an underutilized paved area to pickleball courts will benefit both locals and out-of-town visitors,” they said.

In another post, they added, “Pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in the U.S., so why not add it to one of our most visited parks? The area near the South Beach Access at Honeymoon Island State Park is already modified and can be easily converted to pickleball courts.”

Finally, regarding the aforementioned golf course, Florida DEP said, “At Jonathan Dickinson State Park, we are considering the addition of golf – one of our nation’s most popular sports – in a way that will minimize habitat impacts and leverage already-disturbed areas.”

This plan will undoubtedly be dissected and discussed in the Florida legislature after the election. Talk of Titusville urges its readers to make their feelings well known to their representatives in the legislature. Voters should also ask candidates for their position in this matter and vote accordingly.