Protecting Florida's State Parks from development

This photo was taken Sunday, March 2, 2025 on the Holly Hammock Hiking Trail at the Ross Prairie Trailhead and Campground, 10660 SW State Road 200, Dunnellon. Ross Prairie is on the southern boundary of the Cross Florida Greenway. More information is available at https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ross-prairie-trailhead-campground

This photo was taken Sunday, March 2, 2025 on the Holly Hammock Hiking Trail at the Ross Prairie Trailhead and Campground, 10660 SW State Road 200, Dunnellon. Ross Prairie is on the southern boundary of the Cross Florida Greenway. More information is available at https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ross-prairie-trailhead-campground

A Florida scrub jay along Hawk's Bluff trail in Savannas Preserve State Park on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Jensen Beach.

A Great Blue Heron waits for a snack on the Silver River in Silver Springs, FL on Friday, February 14, 2025. The five-mile river, which is part of the 4000 acre Silver Springs State Park, offers visitors a look at natural Florida by canoe, boat or glass bottom boat from the headwater. The park has no development and doesn’t allow swimming or access to the banks. Boating is at idle speed only. The State Park system has had control of the former attraction since 2013 and has worked to return it to a natural state. The park is open is open from 8 a.m to sunset every day of the year. Canoes and kayaks can be launched from the head water but boat access is from Ray Wayside Park near the Ocklawaha river Bridge only.

A large crowd of people gather at the front entrance of Jonathan Dickinson State Park to protest against the proposed golf courses Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, in Martin County. Florida Department of Environmental Protection has proposed to build three golf courses in the park as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis' Great Outdoors Initiative.

Community members, environmental organizations and county officials gather at Flagler Park to keep pressure on the DeSantis administration to call off plans to build recreational facilities in Florida's protected state parks Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Stuart. Friends of the Everglades organized the event and featured speakers from various organizations, such as, Florida Wildlife Federation and South River Outfitters.

A storm brews over the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Collier County on Monday, July 29, 2024. The park has historically been one of the hotbeds for the Florida panther.

A map released by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection shows the proposed areas of Jonathan Dickinson State Park that could be converted into golf courses. (Florida Department of Environmental Protection)

A juvenile bald eagle ventures from the nest above the cow camp reenactment at Lake Kissimmee State Park in Lake Wales, Florida, May 8, 2005.

A gopher tortoise is seen in the Seabranch Preserve State Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Martin County. Listed as "threatened" in Florida by the federal Endangered Species Act, both gopher tortoises and their burrows are protected by law.

The beach is best at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, according to Stephen Leatherman, who creates the Dr. Beach’s Top Ten Beaches list. He rated the Florida state park’s nine miles of sandy shore as the No. 1 beach in the United States for 2023-24.

Sebastian Inlet State Park lies within a stretch of barrier island along central Florida's east coast.

A Florida panther strides through recently preserved land within the Fakahatchee Strand State Park.

You can see gators in Gainesville both on the University of Florida campus and places like Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.

Fallen trees from erosion and driftwood dot the shoreline Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Boneyard Beach, Big Talbot Island State Park, in Jacksonville, Fla.

DEVON RAVINE | Daily News Beachgoers take the boardwalk to the beach at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in south Walton County, Florida.

Joe Wallace cruises the Silver River in Silver Springs, FL on Friday, February 14, 2025. The five-mile river, which is part of the 4000 acre Silver Springs State Park, offers visitors a look at natural Florida by canoe, boat or glass bottom boat from the headwater. The park has no development and doesn’t allow swimming or access to the banks. Boating is at idle speed only. The State Park system has had control of the former attraction since 2013 and has worked to return it to a natural state. The park is open is open from 8 a.m to sunset every day of the year. Canoes and kayaks can be launched from the head water but boat access is from Ray Wayside Park near the Ocklawaha river Bridge only. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner]

A Great Blue Heron takes flight on the Silver River in Silver Springs, FL on Friday, February 14, 2025. The five-mile river, which is part of the 4000 acre Silver Springs State Park, offers visitors a look at natural Florida by canoe, boat or glass bottom boat from the headwater. The park has no development and doesn’t allow swimming or access to the banks. Boating is at idle speed only. The State Park system has had control of the former attraction since 2013 and has worked to return it to a natural state. The park is open is open from 8 a.m to sunset every day of the year. Canoes and kayaks can be launched from the head water but boat access is from Ray Wayside Park near the Ocklawaha river Bridge only. [Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner]

The remaining foundation of a church chapel that served people living at Camp Murphy in the 1940's that became Jonathan Dickinson State Park on September 23, 2024 in Martin County, Florida.

Sebastian Inlet State Park lies within a stretch of barrier island along central Florida's east coast.

Larry Jordan, of Miami, paddles north on the Loxahatchee River in Riverbend Park on June 24, 2017. Jordan was dropped off by his wife Margaret before starting the 7.6 mile scenic paddle to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Margaret Jordan said "Florida and Georgia parks are some of the most accommodating we've visited, and Riverbend is one of our favorites." (Richard Graulich / The Palm Beach Post)

Members of the Fort Mose Historical Society are seen at the groundbreaking for reconstruction of the 1738 Fort Mose – the first free Black community in what is now the United States.

A Florida Scrub Jays at Jonathan Dickinson State Park Oct. 2, 2024 near the Pine Grove Campground in Hobe Sound.

A rainbow appears over Jonathan Dickinson State Park during a protest against the proposed golf courses Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, in Martin County. Florida Department of Environmental Protection has proposed to build three golf courses in the park as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis' Great Outdoors Initiative.

Loggerhead turtle tracks are seen during a night turtle walk hosted by Ecological Associates, Inc. (EAI) on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the north entrance of Jensen Beach Park. EAI specializes in sea turtle research and works under a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Turtle Permit, MTP-23/24-010D. The Turtle Walk program is aimed to engage the public in the conservation efforts, sea turtle biology education and protection efforts. All sea turtles, their nests and their eggs are protected by federal and state laws. If you see nesting turtles or hatchlings that appear to be struggling, nest poaching or harrassment call the FWC hotline Ñ 888-404-3922.

Excavation of a shell mound on Hontoon Island in 1893. The island was home to the Mayaca people for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in Florida. The island became part of the state park system in 1960.

Tell-taled Godwits look for food near BulowVille in this painting by John James Audubon for his book, "Birds of America." A Florida State Parks history states Audubon arrived at the once-thriving plantation on Bulow Creek on Christmas Day, 1831.

Sebastian Inlet State Park lies within a stretch of barrier island along central Florida's east coast.

The Sebastian Fishing Museum is located at Sebastian Inlet State Park’s south entrance and highlights the history behind Indian River Lagoon’s fishing industry.