ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A peaceful protest is taking place at Anastasia State Park to oppose the proposed development by the Department of Environmental Protection on Sunday at 10 a.m.
RELATED: St. Augustine’s Anastasia State Park among 9 parks that could see big changes
Eight public meetings were scheduled for Tuesday, but the DEP said they will reschedule the meetings in early September due to high interest.
The park is one of nine state parks apart of the “Great Outdoors” initiative.
The state wants to build lodging with up to 350 rooms, a disc golf course, and pickleball courts.
READ: Conceptual plans for Anastasia State Park
People like Desiree Sanders feel that state parks should be left alone.
That’s why she’s helping organize Sunday’s rally.
“It is absolutely vital that we protect our environment, that we protect our State Park,” Sanders said. “This is our piece of Florida, that we all love, that we go to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, there’s an abundance of wildlife that we need to protect out there.”
She described what the park means to her.
“This park means a lot,” Sanders said. “There’s just so much that can go into that question. It means standing up and fighting the fight to keep our natural heritage to keep a little piece of Florida around. It’s when you go in there, it’s, it’s almost like you’re seeing what it was like before everything else was built.”
She said it means a lot to other people in the community as well.
“Every citizen that you talk to will tell you that they have memories there, that they love going to the gopher tortoises or they love walking through the maritime hammock and just being surrounded by wildlife. It’s just so vital because all of our land is being developed right now and we have to protect this,” Sanders said.
She talked about how the animals and wildlife would be affected by the development.
“We’re talking a detriment to the species that live there,” Sanders said. “The Anastasia Island beach mouse is endemic to that area. They are already endangered due to habitat loss and if they build a 350-room lodge on the beach, then that dispels disaster for the mice, as well as the sea turtles that come up on the beach to nest.”
News4JAX Insiders voiced their opinions on the proposed changes as well.
“I think they should remain as they presently are! These State Parks are not entertainment and personal recreation areas. They were meant to be “protected” areas of wildlife and original natural habitat,” William McLeod said.
Another viewer opposed the development.
“There is enough development going on here and as a park card holder, I don’t like that my tax money is going to an outside source,” the viewer said.
Click here to see the Facebook post for the protest.