ANNALS OF DeSANTISTAN: Hotel, pickleball and disc golf Anastasia Park? Reaction in St. Johns County is fierce. (Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record)

Our Anastasia State Park must be preserved inviolate, unmolested by Boy Governor RONALD DION DeSANTIS's maladministration. One of the best articles in the St. Augustine Record in recent year..  Thanks to all who have spoken out.  I support a St. Augustine National Historical Park and National Seashore, first proposed by Mayor Walter Fraser in 1939.  From St. Augustine Record:

Hotel, pickleball and disc golf Anastasia Park? Reaction in St. Johns County is fierce

Lucia Viti

St. Augustine Record

Tension has been building since the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced earlier this week its 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative in a news release that has blindsided America's oldest city.

Tentative plans, described as new construction, aim to increase public access and provide lodging options in nine Florida State Parks, including St. Augustine's Anastasia State Park, a state-owned coastline recreation area located within the city limits of the City of St. Augustine.

The DEP's Anastasia State Park Draft UPM Amendment proposes building a 350-room park lodge in the southern region east of the campground. An already present borrow pit is suggested as a viable site for a portion of the lodge. Lodge views will include the maritime hammocks, dune ridges and the Atlantic beach. Four pickleball courts and a disc golf course are planned for the park’s Salt Run area.

The plan promises to keep the campground separate to ensure "distinct recreational experiences" and evaluate critical wildlife habitat.

Local residents' reactions

Local reaction has been swift and loud. Since the announcement, The St. Augustine Record received a flood of emails, texts and social media posts in opposition to the proposal.

Philip McDaniel, co-founder of the St. Augustine Distillery, expressed outrage at state leadership building commercial and sports facilities that should be built by the private companies or local municipalities.

"Anastasia State Park must remain protected as the peaceful and passive recreation space people use as an escape to recharge from life's hectic days," he said. "Our state parks must remain sacred spaces untouched by human hands."

Gabe Kling, a lifelong St. Augustinian, retired professional surfer, realtor and president of the Florida Board Riders St Augustine chapter, described Anastasia State Park as the real Florida.

Kling said the proposed enhancements will endanger habitats for native and endangered species.

“The installation of concrete courts, a disc golf course, and more parking lots do not complement the park’s unique character,” he said. “By not building additional facilities, DEP can forward its mission of 'environmental management and stewardship, protecting our air, water and land' and protect the current activities specific to Anastasia’s character."

City and county officials: 'an outright betrayal'

Dylan Rumrell, the mayor of St. Augustine Beach, underscored his commitment to preserving "our unique and irreplaceable state park."

"State parks should not compete with private companies to provide ancillary activities or lodging," he said. "Allowing a 350-room hotel in Anastasia State Park is an outright betrayal of our commitment to conservation. This development would devastate the ecosystem and destroy the essence of our protected lands. We cannot and will not sacrifice our natural heritage for commercial gain. I will do everything in my power to ensure this proposal dies on the invasive vine it has grown on."

Sarah Arnold, chair of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, said she reached out to local and state leaders.

I will use my position as chair of the BCC to fight against this proposal which is completely contradictory to everything the residents of this county have fought so hard to preserve," she said. "We must stand together on this."

County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst described the initiative as contrary to the boards efforts to protect and conserve the area's parks, while Commissioner Krista Joseph said that she remains appalled at the idea of commercializing "one of the most beautiful preserves on Anastasia Island."

"I personally thought it was a cruel joke, especially the pickleball part," she said.

A call for patience

The City of St. Augustine, in a written statement, said it was not contacted by the state with details prior to the announcement. The city said it will review the project to maintain compliance with its Comprehensive Plan and the Municipal Code of Ordinances.

"If the State of Florida is required to obtain approval for aspects of this project by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, City Commission, or any other city board, then the State of Florida will apply to the necessary board to obtain these permits," the statement said. "The City of St. Augustine respects a fair and transparent process and does not pre-judge this development proposal before the state has the opportunity to present this project to the community during the defined public hearing process."

The city emphasized the need to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of the process, which could "result in unintended consequences," and it asked the community to remain patient "while we discover exactly what the State of Florida is proposing and how that project will move through the local review process."

"Citizen input is critical to the process," Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline said. "I strongly encourage all members of the public to stay informed, take every available opportunity to engage in the FDEP’s process but more importantly — provide their feedback."

The St. Augustine Record reached out to Nikki Clifton, deputy press secretary for the DEP's office of communications, Thursday for comment on the proposal. As of Friday's deadline, she had not responded.

Public meetings postponed statewide

The DEP originally said it would hold public meetings in the affected areas across the state on Tuesday Aug. 27, from 3 to 4 p.m. For the Anastasia State Park plan, that public meeting was scheduled at St. Augustine’s First Coast Technical College.

But late Friday afternoon, the agency announced on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that it is postponing those meetings.

"Due to the overwhelming interest with the 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative, DEP is looking for new venues to accommodate the public," the post said. "We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate. Public input is vital to DEP decision-making. To gather feedback on your favorite state parks, we’ve launched a dedicated webpage for more suggestions: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7983173/Great-Outdoors-Initiative

"New meeting dates will be announced soon, with meetings expected the week of Sept. 2, 2024."

Draft proposals can be found on the DEP website at https://floridadep.gove/Parks/Public-Participation.

The Florida Wildlife Federation is encouraging residents to send emails expressing their concerns. Template emails are on their website - https://floridawildlifefederation.org/action-state-parks-threat.