8.29 UPDATE: Your vocal support for our state parks worked! After eight days of public outrage, Governor DeSantis finally said Wednesday that a controversial proposal by his administration to develop golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels at state parks is “going back to the drawing board.” This backtracking could not have been accomplished without the rapid and overwhelming response from the public, community groups, Florida businesses, and bipartisan unity from state elected officials who opposed these plans. Thank you for your efforts!

On August 20, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) announced the Great Outdoors Initiative, which would subject nine of our precious state parks to development of commercial hotels, golf courses, and sports fields and courts. FDEP planned to collect public comment on these plans for one hour at eight simultaneous meetings just one week later, on August 27. Then late in the day of August 23, FDEP announced that all of the previously scheduled public meetings were being postponed due to “overwhelming interest” in their plan. Don't let gopher tortoise borrows and scrub jay trees be replaced by golf courses and pickleball courts! What can you do to protest...