Are changes coming to Florida’s state park system?

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ environmental agency is considering plans to convert some of Florida’s state parks into areas with other recreational amenities — including more lodging, golf, pickleball courts and golf courses, according to an announcement sent out by the state this week. .

But details were lacking late Tuesday. The plans are known to include at least nine state parks, including two in the Tampa Bay area: Honeymoon Island and Hillsborough River state parks.

On Monday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the move is intended to support Florida’s “outdoor recreation economy” and add new lodging options. But without further explanation, some environmental groups say they fear that disabled accommodations in the national park could be threatened by the creation of other parks.

Although state officials acknowledged receiving questions from the Tampa Bay Times about the proposed changes, they did not return calls, letters and emails seeking more information Tuesday afternoon. However, part of the state parks, it announced would hold eight community meetings Aug. 27 for nine parks where the state is proposing changes.

Department of Recreation and Parks officials seem to be willing to spread across the country – from Miami to the Panhandle – for meetings scheduled from 3 pm to 4 pm that Tuesday. Meetings at six parks in Eastern Standard Time will be held at the same time. Meetings at two Panhandle parks, at different times, will begin an hour later. There appears to be no option for any of the meetings listed in the government’s public notice.

The Times obtained copies of the leaked documents from an anonymous source detailing garden plans. The documents were widely circulated and became a source of comment and debate on social media, including among environmentalists who were concerned about how the proposals would promote open space. clean. The Times cannot confirm the authenticity of the plans but they were published in government books which appeared to be genuine.

One document shows plans to replace the golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park with two 18-hole golf courses, a 9-hole golf course and a playground. The state has not yet responded to questions about the document.

Tampa Bay residents those who want to learn about the proposed changes to Honeymoon Island and Hillsborough River will not be able to attend both meetings at the same time, with one meeting scheduled for Tampa and the other for Clearwater.

“By scheduling these cases with so little notice, it makes it look like the department doesn’t care what the public has to say,” said Eric Draper, who served as Florida parks director between 2017 and 2017. and 2021.

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“The purpose of the law and even the operation of the Florida park service is to involve the public in the decision-making process,” Draper told the Times. This gives the appearance that the decision has already been made, and they are just following the trends.

Draper says his favorite beach is Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on the Santa Rosa coast. If he wanted to go to a meeting to hear about the changes planned by the government, he would have to drive more than two hours.

The schedules for the eight meetings, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times directly from the parks office in Tallahassee, are also lacking in their details. Everyone follows the same format: The date, time and place where the meeting will be held, followed by three points: “Short presentation, public explanation, break.”

If someone wants to comment on the upcoming changes to the state park and would like to hold a meeting, they will have three minutes.

Below are the locations of each state park proposal meeting scheduled for Aug. 27:

• Hillsborough River State Park, Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, Community Room D
• Honeymoon Island State Park, The District, 11141 US 19 N., Suite 204, Clearwater
• Oleta River State Park, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay campus, Kovens Conference Center, Room 114, 3000 NE 151 Street North, Miami.
• Jonathan Dickinson State Park, The Flagler of Stuart, 201 SW Flagler Ave., River Room, Stuart
• Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Downtown Event Center, 416 NE First St., Fort Lauderdale, Lecture Hall, Building C, second floor (Enter through Main Entrance B – clearly marked on the outside of the building.)
• Anastasia State Park, First Coast Technical College, The Characts Counts Conference Center, Building C, 2980 Collins Ave., St. Augustine
• Camp Helen State Park, Lyndell Convention Center, 423 Lyndell Lane, Panama City Beach
• Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park, Watercolor Inn & Resort, Watercolor LakeHouse, 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach

Times staff writer Romy Ellenbogen contributed to this report.