Florida State Parks

Environmentalists are holding events called "love fests" at Florida's state parks. They want lawmakers to prevent developments like pickleball courts and golf courses.

This comes after widespread opposition last year to a plan dubbed the “Great Outdoors Initiative” by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

They spoke in favor of park and residential utility protections, along with changes to the state's citizens' initiative process.

Here is a list of some of the major pieces of legislation lawmakers are expected to tackle when the session begins March 4.

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously forwarded the measure, a product of last year's heavily criticized plan to add recreational development to state parks.

After the backlash over the plan to bring golf courses and pickleball courts to state parks, a Stuart Republican filed a bill that would ban those changes.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we addressed the controversial park plan, how to interpret political polls, and got the latest fact-checks from PolitiFact.

The initiative to build golf courses, pickleball courts, disc golf courses, hotels and more in nine Florida’s state parks was not an undeveloped idea. There were publicly shared plans, documents and scheduled public meetings across the state.

The information he shared helped spark massive public backlash against the plans, which have since been stalled.

"This is the only issue I can remember that united Republicans and Democrats and Independents,” said former DEP director Eric Draper. "No matter what your political beliefs are, you think this is a bad idea.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discussed a proposal to add new development to several state parks, the jobs outlook for Florida ahead of Labor Day Weekend, a series of court hearings and other news from across the state.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Broward County was included in Florida's much maligned Great Outdoors Initiative. The park's history as Broward's 'Colored Beach' has inspired defenders to protest the changes.