Golf courses in Florida state parks?
US Congressman Brian Mast speaks about golf course proposals at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Editor’s note on the letters: Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to have nixed plans to build golf courses and pickleball courts at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and other parks across the state, citing “overwhelming interest.” But the idea sparked a fierce response of outrage from many Post readers. Below is a sampling of their concerns:
Who else came up with the questionable parking plan?
Thank you, Palm Beach Post, for your coverage of the proposed farce at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The last thing we need is to raze this pristine, beautiful and historic land to make way for three golf courses. Golf courses?? Shouldn’t the Florida Department of Environmental Protection actually be protecting the environment? Have they changed their name and mission? Are they now the Florida Department of Developers? This is nothing more than a land grab for greed. Please continue your reporting and publish the contact information of all officials at all levels who are part of this initiative and encourage readers to come forward.
Laurie Ailworth, Jupiter
Who has an open ear for parks in Florida?: DEP confirms unknown foundation abandons plans for golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson
Preserving parks for biodiversity
We are in the midst of a mass extinction, with many species being lost every month around the world. Habitat loss is one of the main causes of this devastation. The height of human arrogance is to claim that we can survive without this biodiversity.
Undeveloped green spaces are also disappearing. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is home to some, if not the last, undeveloped areas of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge. The park is home to numerous endangered, protected plants and animals. These include gopher tortoises, bald eagles, Florida scrub jays, Florida scrub iguanas and the dancing orchid.
We must preserve our Florida state parks forever and ever for use by generations of greedy, self-serving private companies. Our government’s top priority is protecting the public’s interest. Government officials in the Free State of Florida have blatantly betrayed the public interest with Governor Ron DeSantis’ Great Outdoor Initiative.
Lewjack Dorrance, Tequesta
Study on optimal use of the park required
To maintain our state and national parks without burdening taxpayers, we need a lot of people to visit the parks on a regular basis. I too am against any environmental changes, but they are inevitable, especially on Florida’s coast. If Palm Beach County were not expanded westward and remained pristine and beautiful, there would be no Wellington or Royal Palm Beach. I have proposed that the state Acquisition and Restoration Council conduct a feasibility study to determine the future of Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
There is enough land to maintain the park amenities such as picnic areas and river access for canoeing and just enjoying nature. But there is a lot of land in the park that is very rarely visited that could be used to develop a planned urban development with affordable housing around an active community with little league fields and pickleball courts while maintaining the park’s amenities. This community would create jobs and contribute to the tax base of Stuart and Martin County while meeting the growing needs of the increased population. The park could be renamed Jonathan Dickinson Landing since this is where Jonathan landed after his shipwreck. I firmly believe the feasibility study would determine the best use of the park.
Mike Cirullo, Palm Beach Gardens
Masts parking position inconsistent
In recent days, Florida residents have been confronted with the news of a proposal that would allow the unnecessary development of nine state parks in Florida. As residents of Florida’s 21st Congressional District, I was intrigued by Congressman Brian Mast’s reaction to the proposed construction. It’s no secret to members of this district that Mast has never been the environmentalist he portrays himself to be. Even a quick Google search will lead curious citizens to the League of Environmental Voters’ results list for Mast’s last recorded session in 2023 – a miserable 3%.
It’s pretty baffling that a candidate with that record would take such an aggressive stance against development on an environment he’s done little to protect. Here in South Florida, we understand that the environment is a bipartisan issue, and we deserve representation that believes that 100 percent, not just 3 percent. Fortunately, we have a choice about who we send to Washington this November. Mast’s challenger, Thomas Witkop, has made protecting our environment a core issue of his campaign. We deserve a candidate who will defend public lands without prompting.
Grady Cothran, Jupiter
Marcus column a little hypocritical
As a 45-year resident of northern Palm Beach County, I am outraged by the disastrous proposal to build golf courses in pristine Jonathan Dickinson State Park. I will, however, save some of that outrage for former Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus’ column. Ms. Marcus informs the reader that a conservation easement is “in perpetuity” – that is, permanent. Apparently she has a very short memory.
In 2018, as a paid consultant to Jack Nicklaus’s hyper-exclusive Bears Club community, Marcus unsuccessfully lobbied to remove a “perpetual” conservation easement on 15 acres of the club-controlled property to allow new development. The tactic included a land swap as well as a million-dollar payment to the county. When Marcus tried to reclaim her seat on the commission in 2020 by circumventing county term limits, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus each donated $1,000 to her campaign. Nothing to see here, folks, except blatant hypocrisy.
James Taffuri, Jupiter
