🌳Parks and recs and effects

🌳Welcome to another week.

The outcry has been deafening against the state government's plans to turn protected state park lands into golf courses and pickleball courts.

Even Republican U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio protested the governor and DEP's rushed schedule to rip out trees and grasslands.

I received an email from the city of Dunedin about one of my favorite places in the world, Honeymoon Island State Park. (The message references a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 27, but that has been postponed.)

The City of Dunedin strongly opposes the Florida Department of Environment Protection’s (FDEP) unit management plan to develop pickleball courts on Honeymoon Island State Park.

The proposed FDEP amendment does not align with City’s priorities to protect and maintain our coastal community and preserve our natural environment.

Honeymoon Island, the most visited state park in Florida with more than one million visitors a year, is known for its pristine beaches and natural habitat.  It is clear, given the number of visitors a year, the park should remain just the way it is.

Active recreational facilities such as pickleball courts will negatively impact the natural environment that we celebrate and generate noise that will be detrimental to the wildlife we treasure. In addition, any active recreational facilities will add to traffic congestion in and around the area that is already of concern for our community.

Elected officials and City staff will attend the meeting on (tomorrow) Aug. 27, from 3 to 4 p.m., at The District, 11141 U.S. 19 N, Suite 204 to convey the City’s position regarding this issue.

Meeting information at: https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41004-honeymoon-island-state-park-public-meeting

— City Manager Jennifer K. Bramley on behalf of the City of Dunedin Administration

A change in school administration procedure allowing spiritual counseling from chaplains stems from a bill signed into law earlier this year. HB 931 allows volunteer chaplains to provide support services for public K-12 students.

The law requires parental consent before a student meets with a chaplain, and students must undergo a background check.

Questions about "What if's," inclusion, discrimination and implementation have arisen. Detractors are decrying it as breaching the weakening separation of church and state.

Proponents are celebrating it as progress in the expression of freedom of religion.

Read all about it here.

📰More news you should know

🏉 'Light at the end of the tunnel': City considers $7.26M budget for Susan Street Complex

🐈 Mee-ow! A rare sighting of a wildcat in Vermont has the Green Mountain State all aflutter.

✍Pencil these in: community meetings and events

🎤 The Leesburg City Commission meets today, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 501 W. Meadow St. More details here.

🗣 Lake County BOCC Meeting: The Board of County Commissioners regular board meeting convenes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the Lake County Administration Building, 315 W. Main St., Tavares. More details in agenda.

🕺 Groovy 70s bar crawl this Saturday: The outta-sight event takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. next Saturday, Aug. 31, for the bronze-level participants and 3-8 p.m. for silver and gold. Check in at Southern Gardens, 712 W. Main St., Leesburg, from 3:30 to 4 p.m. for the bronze and 2:30-3 p.m. for the silver and gold. For details, visit the event's Facebook page . Order tickets on eventbrite.com .

🐦 Paint a birdhouse with the kids: Head to Lake Griffin State Park to join Ranger Tina and paint a birdhouse from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. RSVP is required. Note: There is a 20-kid limit to the birdhouse event. Call 352-360-6760 or email Cassondra.Heidt@FloridaDEP.gov.

🔌 Help us stay connected! Don't forget to share your news, forward this email, and share your recommendations and pics with us. Email news@dailycommercial.com .

Bye for now!

JG

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: 🌳Parks and recs and effects