Hillsboro County, Fla. (WFLA) — After months of protest, the future of Florida state parks has been decided.
Governor Desantis signed a new law, passed unanimously by state lawmakers, blocking projects on protected land.
The State Parks Preservation Act protects all 175 state parks by preventing developers from building golf courses, hotels, or other commercial projects on state park land.
The newly signed law comes after widespread outrage over the plan proposed by the state last year to develop nine state parks.
“I don’t think they’ll stop on a single pickleball court, one small trail, or one small glamping site. I think that when that door is opened it will last until wild Florida doesn’t leave anymore,” Gia Medina said.
The bill does not ban all developments, but future proposals should be based on conservation and support activities such as hiking, kayaking and camping.
Lawmakers have said they have made public concerns about the development and argued that preservation of the park would be protected.
“What we have in the landscape is irreplaceable and once it’s gone, we’ll never get it back,” Medina said.
The bill has been signed into law and will take effect in July.
