TALLAHASSEE, Florida — In a rare show of bipartisan resistance, the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis is running into opposition over a newly announced plan to add golf courses and lodging to several renowned Florida parks.
The proposal quickly triggered criticism not just from environmental groups but also from leading Republican political figures, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.
The proposal from the Department of Environmental Protection, dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” would add pickleball courts, golf courses, and additional cabins and lodges at state parks and beaches across the state.
Simpson said he had not even heard about the proposal until media outlets such as The Tampa Bay Times publicized the fast-moving plans that will be the subject of public hearings next week. The state announced the meetings Tuesday.
