Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the recent controversy surrounding plans to build golf courses, pickleball courts, 350-room hotels, and other amenities on Florida’s state parks on Wednesday.
The plans, announced by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on August 19, had sparked widespread backlash and protests from Floridians across the state.
During a news conference in Polk County, DeSantis clarified that he had not approved the “Great Outdoors Initiative” and that the plans were “leaked” to a left-wing group to create a negative narrative.
“This was something that was leaked,” DeSantis said of the DEP release. “It was not approved by me. I never saw that.”
He emphasized that the State of Florida would not be building new golf courses. However, he did mention that the charitable organization “Folds of Honor,” which utilizes golf to raise funds for the families of fallen veterans and first responders, had suggested transforming an abandoned military base in Martin County into a golf course.
The governor claimed that some of the criticism surrounding the proposal was “misrepresented” and suggested that “Folds of Honor” could potentially renovate an existing, deteriorated golf course to carry out their project.
Last week, there was public outrage over the possibility of new golf courses being built at Jonathan Dickenson State Park. Interestingly, “Folds of Honor” was also connected to that withdrawn proposal from last Sunday.
DeSantis asserted that he has consistently supported the environment and wildlife since he’s been governor.
“Since I’ve been governor, we’ve added over a quarter of a million acres to conservation land, we established the Florida Wildlife Corridor,” DeSantis said. “On the state parks, if there does need to be improvements, we’re not going to take away any green space.”
When asked if he would take a more active role in overseeing other state park plans in the future, DeSantis responded, “As a governor, I’m not refereeing how big this campsite is or that … I mean it’s just not things that I’ve been getting involved in. … I am totally fine to just do nothing and do no improvements if that’s what the general public wants, then that’s fine with me.”