The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) announced initiatives proposing major changes to various State Parks throughout Florida. These changes include destroying the natural state of the parks to add resorts, golf courses and pickleball courts. 

As of August 28, 2024 The Great Outdoors initiative has been withdrawn and will be revisited next year after more time for public input. This means they are still going to try. I will leave this petition up and give it time to gain more signatures so we have it ready for 2025 when they try this again. 

These proposed changes to the state parks that we visit and enjoy throughout Florida would tarnish the natural landscape that is increasingly rare in our state. The “Real Florida” is not comprised of golf courses, resorts, and pickleball courts. The state parks are, in some places, the only remaining vestiges of Florida's unique and varied ecosystems.  

We are requesting that these proposed amendments to the unit management plans be removed from consideration permanently because they are incompatible with the very reason we cherish our state parks.