ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Dozens of community members gathered Sunday morning to hold a peaceful protest against the proposed development in Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine.
The proposed changes, which would affect nine parks, include lodges of up to 350 rooms, pickleball courts, disc golf courses and golf courses.
RELATED: St. Augustine’s Anastasia State Park among 9 parks that could see big changes
Eight public meetings were initially scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the proposal, but the state Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday it would push them back “due to the overwhelming interest” in what’s called the “Great Outdoors” initiative.
This initiative includes Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine.
READ: Conceptual plans for Anastasia State Park
Residents like Desiree Sanders feel that state parks should be left alone.
That’s why she helped organize Sunday’s rally.
“There is absolutely no need for that,” Sanders said. “There’s no need for a hotel at all in this park. You can throw a rock and find a hotel within any area in St. Augustine, especially from the park.”
She said it’s important to stand up for the wildlife inside the park. A piece of the park that she said makes it special.
She described what the park means to her.
“We have so many endangered species and threatened species and their land is being taken away piece by piece,” she said. “It’s so important that we stand up and fight for the animals in the wild that don’t have a voice.”
So in an event set up through the Facebook group “Save Anastasia State Park,” hundreds gathered outside the park gates to show their opposition to the changes.
“It’s clear that [the Florida Department of Environmental Protection] don’t understand,” Stacey Strumpf said. “Now they’re saying they want to rehabilitate a burrow pit, but how do you rehabilitate something if you’re going to drop a hotel on it. That’s not rehabilitation, that’s paving. Construction and destruction.”
Cars drove by honking their horns in support as advocates waved their signs.
With the FDEP meetings still set to be scheduled, people can also voice their opinions on the proposed changes online.
Community members who cannot make it in person to one of the upcoming meetings or who would like to submit written comments on the draft proposals can do it by filling out this form online.
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.
Many in attendance at the protest voiced their concerns about a lack of transparency.
They said they felt surprised by how far along the idea was and that none of their local representatives were made aware of the situation either.
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Chair Sarah Arnold provided a statement, emphasizing “grave concern and outrage” regarding the proposed changes at Anastasia State Park.
“The State of Florida has not contacted St. Johns County with any details of this project. Parks are for people and not about projects for profit. Our Board of County Commissioners has been consistent in our views on natural resource conservation and protection. This proposed project is absolutely contrary to our County Board’s vision and priorities. As a Board, we will seriously address this proposed project with all available recourse. Anastasia State Park is a state-owned recreation area inside the city limits of the City of St. Augustine. It may involve a review by its staff and its City Commission.”
Sarah Arnold, St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Chair