ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Anastasia State Park is one of nine parks that are part of the “Great Outdoors” initiative the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced this week.
Changes to the state park would include a lodge with up to 350 rooms, a disc golf course and pickleball courts.
READ: Conceptual plans for Anastasia State Park
News4JAX spoke with multiple community members who were concerned about the proposed changes.
Brandon Giddens, a man visiting the Anastasia State Park from Georgia, said he didn’t like the idea of a hotel in the park.
“For a state park, I think a hotel that size is a bad idea,” Giddens said. “I mean, families come here, people come here to kind of get away from the hustle and the bustle of like, beach crowds.”
St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell was also displeased.
“Why is this coming now, and why wasn’t anybody informed on it?” Rumrell asked.
Rumrell said he found out about the proposals earlier this week along with everyone else.
We want to know: How do you feel about the proposed development plans for Anastasia State Park and eight other state parks across Florida?
“This is Floridians fighting for Florida,” Rumrell said. “We have very limited space, as you know, with development and the rights that developments have, we got to protect what’s left and the state. When they purchased this, when they purchased this property, it was never intended to be a 350-room hotel, pickleball courts, disc golf.”
Add him to a growing list of frustrated public officials like Congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz posted on X saying he opposed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection making state parks into golf courses. The topic is bipartisan with congressman Kathy Castor also criticizing what she is calling on X a greedy sell-out of public land.
The Great Outdoor Initiative includes similar changes to eight other state parks in Florida.
It will ultimately be voted on by what is called the Acquisition and Restoration Council, a 10-member council, four of whom were appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
There was a planned meeting
The public will have a chance to speak up next week in St. Augustine at 2980 Collins Ave starting at 3 p.m.
“I bet you have 500 people there on Tuesday, if not more,” said Rumrell.