Protect Florida State Parks from Development

On May 22, 2025, Governor DeSantis signed the State Park Preservation Act (HB209) into law -- ensuring strong, permanent protections for our state parks across Florida. The legislation also received unanimous support from the Florida Legislature.

This law provides long-term protections for our state parks against harmful development projects like resort-style lodging, golf courses, and pickleball courts. It also provides more transparency and opportunity for public engagement in parks' land management planning. These protections will safeguard our parks and the invaluable experiences and benefits they provide Floridians.

After defeating development plans for resort-style lodging, golf courses, and pickleball courts in nine of our treasured state parks in Summer 2024, we knew we had to strengthen Florida’s state law so we wouldn’t be fighting these same battles again in the future. 

Alongside partners across the state, Surfrider's network advocated for the strongest protections for state parks and held firm against any attempts to weaken the legislation. Surfrider advocates met with state legislators during Florida Healthy Beaches Day to share their experiences in our parks and the benefits these undeveloped lands provide. Surfrider’s Florida network engaged in countless actions throughout the legislative session to secure support for the strongest protections and to encourage the Governor to sign these protections into law.

We applaud the bill sponsors Representative John Snyder & Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman, Senator Gayle Harrell & Senator Jennifer Bradley, and the many co-sponsors and supporters throughout the legislature for listening and responding to Floridians.

Floridians visit and enjoy our state parks because they are undeveloped and provide access to wild landscapes that are increasingly rare in a state of exponential growth. These undeveloped lands and waters also provide coastal resilience, water quality, and recreational benefits to nearby communities. They must be protected from unfettered development at all cost. As Surfrider works to protect beaches, coastal habitats, and recreation areas from the impacts of climate change, and ensure our waters are safe to surf, swim, and play in, we are committed to protecting the last vestiges of wild Florida from irresponsible development that leaves our coasts vulnerable and waterways threatened by excess pollution.