Florida Men: State Parks; Abstinence-based Sex Ed

[nycfan]

"...As I write this, I am looking at a bunch of internal documents from the Florida Department of Environmental Playtime — er, I mean “Protection.” These documents describe proposed changes to nine of our award-winning state parks which, I am told, have been ordered to be implemented by the governor’s office.

The worst one talks of building not one, not two, but THREE golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound. There are plans at the other parks for big motels and pickleball courts and disc golf courses, all of which run completely counter to what our state parks are all about.

...
There’s a procedure for making changes to the parks. The first step is to amend the park’s unit management plan. The internal DEP documents I’m looking at are labeled “Unit Management Plan Amendments” for each park. Here’s what it says for Jonathan Dickinson:

“This concept proposes development of an 18-hole golf course and a separate 9-hole golf course between the Brightline intercity rail and U.S. Highway 1 transportation corridors and the development of a second 18-hole golf course in the northeastern portion of the park on the westside of the Brightline rail corridor. The concept includes a supporting clubhouse and ancillary facilities.”

Building these unnatural additions to the park, it says, would require “the relocation and re-development of existing park support facilities including staff residences, a training center, and the DRP District 5 office complex.”

They’d also have to move the Hobe Mountain observation tower, the document says.

The tower allows park visitors to hike to the top of an ancient sand dune that stands 86 feet above sea level. There’s a boardwalk leading up to the tower, which rises an additional 27 feet from the dune.

But suuuure, we could just move that darn tower any old place! ..."

 

[nycfan]

And by allegedly, I mean pretty much definitely:

 

[nycfan]

DEP Announces 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks

content.govdelivery.com

"... In addition to increasing the number of campsites, cabins and lodges on park property, the initiative will increase the number of outdoor recreation opportunities available at Florida’s state parks, including pickleball, disc golf, golf and paddling.

... Through this initiative, DEP will begin to update state park plans to allow for increased public access, while employing the same best practices utilized by DEP and park systems across the country, ensuring all improvements are welcoming and reflective of Florida’s heritage, are complimentary of and work with park-specific resources, are compatible and fitting within surrounding landscapes, and provide efficient amenities that visitors expect.

Today’s announcement reinforces the DeSantis Administration’s record support for conserving our natural landscapes and commitment to ensuring every Floridian can visit and recreate at Florida’s state parks. ..."

 

[nycfan]

DeSantis admin wants to put golf courses, pickleball courts and more in Florida state parks

The sweeping proposal set off a firestorm of public outcry across the state.

www.tampabay.com

DeSantis admin wants to put golf courses, pickleball courts and more in Florida state parks​

The sweeping proposal set off a firestorm of public outcry across the state.

"... The state agency is giving the public six days to digest the park plans before it hosts simultaneous, apparently in-person-only meetings across the state. All meetings are scheduled for 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday. Agendas obtained by the Tampa Bay Times from the parks Tallahassee office are scarce in detail, but show there will be a brief presentation followed by a public comment period.

... Eric Draper, who served as the director of Florida’s state parks between 2017 and 2021, said it appears the state’s environmental agency is skirting the legal process and the parks system’s own internal operations manual for updating park management plans.

“This appears to be something that has been planned in secret, and it doesn’t appear to have involved the hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are volunteers in the parks, the citizen support organizations, or the many people who have been involved in helping to create and develop Florida’s award-winning park system,” Draper said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

Before the environmental agency formally introduced its proposed changes, staff should have convened a citizens advisory committee made up of other state agencies and people who are working at state parks, Draper said. That advisory committee should have then met and held a public hearing. ..."


hearings, schmearings!

 

[Rock]

It's like Republicans wake up every morning and try to see what new thing they can do to make my blood boil.

 

[CallMeTyler]

Golf courses in state parks.

DEP Announces 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks

content.govdelivery.com

"... In addition to increasing the number of campsites, cabins and lodges on park property, the initiative will increase the number of outdoor recreation opportunities available at Florida’s state parks, including pickleball, disc golf, golf and paddling.

... Through this initiative, DEP will begin to update state park plans to allow for increased public access, while employing the same best practices utilized by DEP and park systems across the country, ensuring all improvements are welcoming and reflective of Florida’s heritage, are complimentary of and work with park-specific resources, are compatible and fitting within surrounding landscapes, and provide efficient amenities that visitors expect.

Today’s announcement reinforces the DeSantis Administration’s record support for conserving our natural landscapes and commitment to ensuring every Floridian can visit and recreate at Florida’s state parks. ..."

"conserving our natural landscapes" by developing golf courses and lodging? Nothing says conservation like stripping away natural landscapes for commercial construction.

As someone who lived in FL for a time and enjoyed many of these parks, this is a travesty.

 

[mpaer]

WVa. Has a very robust State Park system. And they are big into such things

 

[aGDevil2k]

Florida you could have had Anthony Gillam.

And let's face it, the ride would have been wild

 

[Wheels81]

They will be underwater soon due to global warming.

 

[UNCBAdookJD]

As someone who regularly used Jonathan Dickinson state park as a scout growing up in Florida, F this guy. This is ridiculous.

 

[Mulberry Heel]

And by allegedly, I mean pretty much definitely:

I know many people have said that Florida is simply a lost cause for Democrats and is now a solid red state, but DeSantis does seem to be doing his very best to give Democrats a chance to make the state competitive again.

 

[EyeballKid]

Holy shit. My folks live in

As someone who regularly used Jonathan Dickinson state park as a scout growing up in Florida, F this guy. This is ridiculous.

I grew up in FL. My folks lived in Jupiter for a few years recently; they’ve now moved to Vero Beach. Which is to say, I’ve been to Dickinson many, many times. DeSantis can EAD.

 

[UNCatTech]

And by allegedly, I mean pretty much definitely:

So, this idiot thinks this is a good idea?

 

[maxcrowder]

Florida you could have had Anthony Gillam.

And let's face it, the ride would have been wild

Even with Gilliam's problems he still had the best line in that campaign.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/10/25/18022094/gillum-desantis-florida-governor-debate-racists

"Well, let me first say my grandmother used to say, “A hit dog will holler.” And it hollered through this room. Mr. DeSantis has spoken. First of all, he’s got neo-Nazis helping him out in the state. He has spoken at racist conferences. He’s accepted a contribution and would not return it from someone who referred to the former president of the United States as a Muslim n-i-g-g-e-r. When asked to return that money, he said no. He’s using that money to now fund negative ads."

"Now, I’m not calling Mr. Desantis a racist. I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist."

 

[gtyellowjacket]

Golf courses in state parks aren't common but aren't unheard of. WV was mentioned but NY, SC, AL and GA among others also have lots of very popular golf courses in state parks. And hotel facilities are even more common in the state and federal park system.

I don't think golf courses and hotels in state parks are necessarily bad as long as they are done in an environmentally responsible way which with DeSantis is unlikely.

 

[CallMeTyler]

Golf courses in state parks aren't common but aren't unheard of. WV was mentioned but NY, SC, AL and GA among others also have lots of very popular golf courses in state parks. And hotel facilities are even more common in the state and federal park system.

I don't think golf courses and hotels in state parks are necessarily bad as long as they are done in an environmentally responsible way which with DeSantis is unlikely.

Walk us through how golf courses are environmentally responsible.

 

[gtyellowjacket]

Walk us through how golf courses are environmentally responsible.

They aren't compared to untouched woodland. But my point was what FL was doing isn't exactly beyond the pale.

 

[4thgenheel]

the rethuglicans are probably trying to do this in NC, too.

they stripped AEC (area of environmental concern) protections from a bunch of natural areas and preservation land earlier this year.

Legal battle could decide fate of key environmental rules for Jockey's Ridge State Park in Outer Banks

A dispute between two North Carolina state agencies is threatening a key designation for a beloved state park on the Outer Banks.

www.wtkr.com

"For decades now, Jockey's Ridge State Park has been declared an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC). That means there are a lot of protections in place to preserve its unique features. Tucked into the budget bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly last year was a provision giving the commission new powers to strip rules from state law.
And the commission acted quickly to remove CRC rules regarding Jockey’s Ridge and other coastal interests, calling them “vague and circular” and “unnecessary.”

 

[SmilingJack]

This reminds me of Carl Hiaasen's book Sick Puppy which takes place in Florida and has all the same stuff that apparently Desantis and company are doing right down to the ruination of the environment. Really funny author and I'm sure that he figured it was satire and couldn't happen yet here we are!

 

[farce©]

This reminds me of Carl Hiaasen's book Sick Puppy which takes place in Florida and has all the same stuff that apparently Desantis and company are doing right down to the ruination of the environment. Really funny author and I'm sure that he figured it was satire and couldn't happen yet here we are!

Bad Monkey is now an Apple TV show.