ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. — Northeast Florida officials spoke in a press conference Wednesday morning in response to the proposed development of Anastasia State Park.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has proposed building a 350-room hotel in the state park, which would be the second largest of its kind in St. Johns County. The department says the proposed amenities would be similar to visiting a lodge at Yosemite National Park and that it would be an opportunity to rehabilitate a borrow pit from a former road construction project.
The state is proposing to add pickleball courts, disc golf courses and golf courses inside of the park as well.
The proposal has caused an outcry from many residents who live in the region, including residents in Jacksonville, who enjoy the state park in its current condition and oppose the potential for development.
Officials spoke at Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Beach, where they said the first step to taking action against developments to Anastasia State Park is to speak up.
The following is the list of officials who were in attendance at the press conference:
- Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond
- St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell
- Congressman Mike Waltz
- Senator Travis Hutson
- Representative Cyndi Stevenson
- St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold
- Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford
- Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown
- Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman
Officials showed up with a clear message, stating state parks need to be preserved and protected. Furthermore, local leaders said they plan on filing resolutions against the proposed developments.
"I have never seen an issue that has galvanized a community, a region, or an entire state that the way this has," said Arnold.
"We can't just put stuff on social media, we actually have to get together and do something. We need to show the entire state of Florida that we wanna keep this park perfect," Diamond said.
"This isn't just about a building, it's about preserving the natural treasures that have been a part of my family's life," said Rumrell.
First Coast News reached out to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Monday with specific questions regarding Anastasia State Park, but have not yet heard back from them.