TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — What all started with a leaked proposal to build golf courses and pickleball courts at state parks last year has now resulted in legislation that aims to protect natural grounds from those very acts.

Efforts to protect Florida’s natural grounds was a bi-partisan hit with many supporters rallying over the summer, but with no further movement in the last few weeks at the capitol, what is the hold up to push the “State Park Preservation Act” across the finish line?

Last summer, hundreds protested against possible plans to further develop wild spaces, and that fight to protect Florida’s state parks continues at the statehouse.
“I think we were all dismayed last summer when suddenly out of nowhere these plans were revealed to pave over out state parks,” said State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando).

Led by both Republicans and Democrats, Senate Bill 80 and its house companion aims to not only preserve state land but also requires public hearings for future park plans and puts in place an advisory board that will report back to the legislature.

While lawmakers and advocates support those efforts, there may be some gaps in the language, leaving room for future prospects to find loopholes to build over state parks.

“We can’t possibly list every use inappropriate, but we can cover our bases. By explicitly stating we will not permit uses that disturb and harm the resources of our state parks,” said Gil Smart, Friends of the Everglades Policy Director.

When asked whether the bill had any luck in the senate, President Ben Albritton (R- Wauchula) said, “We’ll see what happens.”

“We will see where it ends up going. I am certainly supportive of making sure that we’re protecting our state parks and that we are showing Floridians that this natural space matters. But again, this issue is like a lot of issues, it’s really about achieving balance,” Albritton said.