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Florida State Parks

First state parks bill filed; here’s what it looks like

December 13, 2024

The first of what looks to be several bills regarding the controversial proposal to develop Florida’s state parks has dropped, and it’s good. But it could be better. Filed by state Sen. Gayle Harrell of Stuart, Senate Bill 80 — the “State Park Preservation Act”…

Change at the top at FDEP – and that could spell trouble

November 14, 2024

You might have seen the news last week that Florida DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton was stepping down; he’ll be replaced by Alexis Lambert, chief of staff of the state’s division of bond finance since 2018. There’s speculation that Hamilton’s departure…

Why has no one been held accountable for state parks fiasco?

September 18, 2024

Here’s a question for you: Did Florida DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton know about the controversial and now (temporarily) shelved plan to develop Florida’s state parks? Given that the Department of Environmental Protection was riding herd over the project, it would…

‘Parksgate’ fiasco demands an investigation

September 5, 2024

By now you may know the name of James Gaddis, the Florida DEP whistleblower who leaked the plan to “develop” Florida’s state parks. Gaddis, as you probably also know, was fired by FDEP for revealing the plan, which Gov. Ron…

Aftermath: We beat controversial parks plan – but it’s never really over

August 29, 2024

The roar of outrage that greeted Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to develop our state parks was a sight to behold. For the time being, at least, we won; the outcry forced DeSantis to hit the brakes. But make no mistake,…

He blinked: DeSantis backs down on disastrous state parks plan

August 28, 2024

You did it! Just a day after huge crowds of Floridians flocked to rallies around the state demanding Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida DEP scrap a controversial plan to develop our state parks, DeSantis told the DEP to rework…

What is DeSantis thinking with disastrous parks proposal?

August 26, 2024

In backing the ultra-controversial plan for “improvements” at Florida State Parks – golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park; huge 350-room “lodges”/hotels at Anastasia and Topsail Hill Preserve state parks, and more – Gov. Ron. DeSantis walked straight into a…

Update: D-Day for FL state parks postponed, no meetings Tuesday Aug. 27

August 23, 2024

Update: As of 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has POSTPONED all public meetings around the state on its “Great Outdoors Initiative” and hopes to reschedule them the week of Sept. 2 at larger venues,…

Update: D-Day for FL state parks pushed back, no meetings Tuesday Aug. 27

August 23, 2024

Update: As of 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has POSTPONED all public meetings around the state on its “Great Outdoors Initiative” and hopes to reschedule them the week of Sept. 2 at larger venues,…

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