TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Over the weekend, 16 Florida State Park “Love Fests” — from rallies and sign waving to hikes and spring dips — took place across Florida, urging legislators to close loopholes and ensure the “State Park Preservation Act” truly protects our iconic parks. These State Land Management bills, CS/SB 80 and HB 209, as currently written/amended, cannot prevent the development threats (hotels, golf courses, pickle ball courts, and more) park lovers defeated last year.
While the Senate bill isn't on this week's agenda, Rep. Snyder's House bill (CS/HB 209) is set for a State Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday, 4/8/25 at 8 a.m. State park advocates from across the state and the political spectrum, including Martin County residents vehemently opposed to development in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, are counting on him to amend it in time.
Additional State Park Love Fests are planned for this coming weekend (April 12-13) in Hillsborough River State Park and Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.
Photos and videos from the weekend’s events can be found in the Florida State Park Love Fest Photo Gallery.
- Last summer, Florida’s wild places came under threat from a plan to build golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts, and more in our state parks. In less than nine days, protests across the state drawing thousands of state park lovers shut down that threat.
- There are two bills moving through the legislative process, CS/SB 80 and HB 209, but as currently written/amended they cannot prevent the development threats we fought to stop last year.
- Requested amendments include language deletions and insertions in CS/SB 80 and HB 209 to effect:
- The removal of weak language that would permit the inappropriate development of state parks (i.e. "compatible," "minimizing," and "maximum extent practicable");
- The removal of language that encourages the development of disturbed uplands;
- The insertion of strong language prohibiting material disturbance to the natural features and prohibiting the introduction of artificiality to the natural scenery;
- The insertion of language that prioritizes preservation, protection, and restoration of the environment over public recreation; and the insertion of language that adds aesthetic, cultural, and educational management purposes, and clarifies that recreational purposes should be passive.
- State Park Preservation Act Joint Letter dated 2-10-25
- Press clips - Defend our State Parks - August 2024
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