ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP) has proposed dramatic plans to change Anastasia State Park and News4JAX has been trying to find out where all of this started.
There has been a public outcry since FLDEP revealed plans to develop a 350-room lodge, disc golf course, pickleball courts, and more at the park.
St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell said he was blindsided by the news.
“Why is this coming now, and why wasn’t anybody informed on it?” Rumrell asked last week.
The St. Johns County Commissioners put out a statement saying they were never contacted and the project is contrary to the county board’s vision.
On Friday, News4JAX emailed FLDEP asking about the “Great Outdoors Initiative” and if there had been any public meetings before the plans were released.
News4JAX never got a response to that question.
On Monday morning, News4JAX followed up and asked a few more questions:
- If the plan were to move forward, how would the state decide who would construct the hotel?
- How long were these proposals worked on before being released to the public last week?
- Where and to whom would the generated revenue go if the new park plans were to go through?
News4JAX also put in a records request with DEP that could reveal more about the plans and who’s behind them and is waiting to receive them.
St. Augustine residents opposed to the development plan met at Spinster Abbotts on Monday from 6-9 p.m. to write letters to lawmakers against the plan.
Next week, everyone opposed will have the chance to have their voices heard in a public meeting in downtown St. Augustine.
While FLDEP has not responded to many of our questions, it did address those who have taken issue with the plan on “X.”
In a social media post on Friday, FLDEP appeared to defend the plan for Anastasia State Park, saying building a new park lodge “will provide a new community space, and offer an opportunity to rehabilitate a borrow pit left over from a former road construction project before the park was acquired.”
FLDEP also made comparisons to other parks with lodges like the much larger Zion National Park in Utah and Yosemite National Park in California.
Last fiscal year, @FLStateParks hosted more than 2.3 million overnight visitors. Here is our proposal. pic.twitter.com/XwdWmuqOtb
— Florida DEP News (@FLDEPNews) August 23, 2024
In an email to News4JAX, FLDEP did address a group that recently withdrew its plan to build a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park near West Palm Beach.
“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection appreciates the Tuskegee Dunes Foundation’s good-faith proposal for a public golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. While they are withdrawing their proposal, the Foundation worked with the state to pursue a project that would have created a public, world class golf course for all, while supporting veterans, first responders and their families. Their plan to honor the Tuskegee Airmen was noble,” a FLDEP spokesperson said. “We appreciate their decision to pursue projects outside of the park and will continue to support the Foundation’s mission. This project will be removed from agency review.”