Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a new law that restricts certain types of development in state parks, effectively blocking proposals to build golf courses, hotels and sports facilities on conservation lands.
The law, which goes into effect July 1, establishes new protections aimed at preserving public lands while ensuring continued access for recreational activities such as boating, swimming and camping. It also requires at least 30 days’ public notice ahead of any hearings to consider changes to state park management or usage.
The legislation received unanimous approval from both chambers of the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature.
Republican state Sen. Gayle Harrell, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the law provides clear guidelines to prevent unwanted commercial development in state parks. Harrell’s district includes Jonathan Dickinson State Park, where state officials had previously floated the idea of constructing a golf complex. That proposal would have involved removing existing infrastructure, including a boardwalk and an observation tower.
The move follows public and political opposition to earlier proposals from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The governor has said he did not approve those development plans.
Florida’s 175 state parks attract millions of visitors annually and are considered central to the state’s environmental identity. The new law is intended to ensure their protection amid growing development pressures across the state.
