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Florida Department of Environmental Protection withdraws all remaining proposed amendments to state parks

WPTV has been listening to your concerns for days related to possible changes at Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Following more than a week of protests and pushback, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has withdrawn all remaining proposed amendments to state parks.

By: Scott Sutton , Joel Lopez

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Following more than a week of protests and pushback, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has withdrawn all remaining proposed amendments to state parks.

The agency said in a statement that the decision came from the direction of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and feedback from the public.

"We will shift to discussions with our local park managers and will revisit any park improvements, if needed, next year," FDEP spokeswoman Alexandra Kuchta said in the statement.

Some residents that WTPV spoke to Thursday were calling it a statewide victory.

The announcement comes a day after DeSantis held a news conference and said that "a lot of that stuff was just half-baked and was not ready for prime time."

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However, the governor said some of the uproar from the proposal related to the state's Great Outdoors Initiative at nine state parks was "misrepresented" and "not approved by me."

RESIDENTS REACT TO ANNOUNCEMENT

Residents across Martin County have passionately voiced their opposition to building three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. WPTV held a "Let's Hear It" event in Stuart on Tuesday where we spoke to many of you about the issue.

Quinton Destout, a local fishing guide, was among those against the plan.

"There's a lot of good that can be done to (Jonathan Dickinson State Park), but cutting all this to put a golf course is definitely not it," Quinton Destout told WPTV reporter Joel Lopez.

"Would you call this a victory?" WPTV reporter Joel Lopez asked him.

"Of course, definitely," Destout said. "Any time we can get the people to speak up on this issue and make our voices heard that's a great thing."

But activist Jessica Namath said protecting Florida's state parks isn't over.

"This seems to be like the typical move of delay, delay, delay," Namath said. "I think they're hoping that we're going to forget."

She said a public meeting to discuss their concerns is still needed to bring more transparency to the Great Outdoors Initiative and the people behind the projects.

Jessica Namath explains to WPTV reporter Joel Lopez why she still thinks more transparency is needed from the FDEP.

"I think we need accountability from our state and local officials and county commissioners that they hear us and that they want to protect the same things that we want protected," Namath said.

WPTV traveled to Tallahassee this week to speak to DeSantis' office and members of the FDEP, but no one would answer our questions. We also reached out to DeSantis and Mast on Thursday for comment but have not heard back yet.

Read more of WPTV's coverage of this issue and protests below: