Video: Floridian protest leaked plans to develop a pickle ball court in state parks.
TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the State Parks Preservation Act Thursday, marking the victory for those who spoke decisively against a plan leaked based on a portion of the state’s natural land last summer.
The bipartisan law, which will be implemented on July 1, enacts safeguards to prevent developers from building golf courses, hotels, pickle courts and more in Florida’s 175 state parks.
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The bill does not ban any kind of development, but lawmakers said in the future, Florida state parks will be preserved exclusively for conservation-based projects that support activities such as hiking, kayaking, camping and birdwatching.
“This may be one of the most monumental environmental laws Florida has ever passed,” said Rep. Gossett Seidman, who co-hosted the bill. “Our parks are not for sale. They are sacred public spaces filled with natural beauty that must be protected for future generations.”
The law was a response to a massive protest organized last summer after furious Floridians learned of plans to pave parts of their favourite state park for pickle ball courts and hotels.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said he never approved the plan, moving away from the proposal after the backlash. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has retracted the amendments proposed at the governor’s request.
But Sen. Gale Harrell (R-Stuart), another sponsor of the State Parks Preservation Act, said he wanted to make sure that such a thing never happens again.
“The passage of this bill will ensure that our state parks will be protected forever,” Harrell said. “It’s democracy in the workplace. People were heard.”
