Petition to the State of Florida: Preserve Marineland for Public and Environmental Conservation

​To: The Honorable Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida; The Florida Cabinet; The Florida Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC); and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

​Demand: We, the undersigned citizens and concerned individuals, urgently petition the State of Florida to utilize state land preservation funds (such as the Florida Forever Program) or other mechanisms to acquire the Marineland Dolphin Adventure property at 9600 Ocean Shore Blvd, St Augustine, FL, and permanently protect it from private, incompatible residential or commercial development.

​The Case for Preservation

​Marineland, which sits on the border of St. Johns and Flagler Counties, is a historically and ecologically significant property that must be protected for the public good, not sold for high-density development.

​Ecological Sensitivity: The property is a crucial piece of oceanfront and Intracoastal Waterway land. Allowing development would permanently destroy critical habitat, increase nutrient runoff, and place immense pressure on the surrounding River to Sea Preserve and the delicate coastal ecosystem. The state has a clear precedent for protecting this area through grants and land-use agreements.

​Historical and Cultural Value: Opened in 1938, Marineland was the world's first oceanarium and has been a cornerstone of Florida's history, pioneering marine science, and educating the public for over 80 years. Its complete redevelopment would be an irreversible loss of Florida’s unique heritage.

​Public Interest vs. Private Profit: The current sale, arising from bankruptcy proceedings, prioritizes private profit for a developer over the long-term environmental and historical preservation interests of the citizens of Florida. The state has an opportunity—and a moral obligation—to intervene and secure this land for conservation, recreational, and educational purposes.

​Preventing Irreversible Precedent: Ceding this valuable coastal land to development, especially one adjacent to existing state-protected areas, sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the State’s commitment to its own land acquisition and restoration programs.

​The Requested Action

​We demand that the Governor, the Florida Cabinet, and the FDEP take immediate, decisive action to:

​Formally evaluate the Marineland property for inclusion in a state land acquisition program, such as Florida Forever.

​Secure the necessary funds to submit a competitive offer to acquire the property in the upcoming bankruptcy auction, thereby preventing its sale to a residential or large-scale commercial developer.

​Upon acquisition, dedicate the land to permanent conservation and integrate its management with the adjacent River to Sea Preserve for public access, recreation, and environmental education.

​We urge you not to let this historic and ecologically priceless piece of Florida's coastline be lost forever to concrete. Please act now to secure this property for all future generations.

​Signed,

​(Your Name, City, State/Zip Code)