After golf course debacle, Florida’s state park legislation needs to be stronger

After the uproar created last summer by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to pave over parts of Florida’s beloved state parks with golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges, it’s good to hear that a bill has been filed in Tallahassee aiming to put a stop to any more of that park development nonsense in the future.

Sen. Gayle Harrell from Stuart recently filed Senate Bill 80 — the “State Park Preservation Act” — to stop construction of sporting facilities at state parks. Harrell is a Republican; one of the most notable things about the fierce opposition to DeSantis’ idea last year is that it came from both environmentalists and from within his own party, including from Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.