Backlash against a state plan to build pickleball courts, golf courses and hotels in Florida state parks spilled from social media to the grass of Oleta River State Park on Tuesday, where more than 50 protesters gathered to speak out against the proposal.
“This is a real movement. A real, statewide movement,” said Susan DeGregory, an event coordinator from North Miami. “This is something that once it happens, you can’t undo it.”
She said it was her first time inside Oleta River State Park, but she’s already planning to return to paddle among the mangroves. When she comes back, DeGregory said she hopes the state will have listened to the growing chorus of Floridians, including top elected Republicans, who say they’re against the DeSantis administration plan.
The “Great Outdoors Initiative” calls for adding recreational opportunities to nine state parks, including two 350-room hotels, multiple golf courses and pickleball courts. The proposal to add several golf courses to Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County has been met with some of the fiercest push back, and on Sunday a group that claimed to be behind the concept said it was withdrawing its plans to build in the park …