Over 100,000 people have signed four online petitions opposing Gov. Ron DeSantis' Great Outdoors Initiative, which plans to develop nine state parks, including three golf courses in Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Even though the two groups that pushed for the golf courses — Tuskegee Dunes Foundation and Folds of Honor —have withdrawn their application, critics say they won't stand down until the state kills the plan.
Need more info?: Catch up on all the news about Jonathan Dickinson State Park golf course plan
Change.org: Protect Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jaime Chartley, 24, lives in Stuart and is a technician at the Palm City Animal Medical Center . She grew up visiting and camping in Jonathan Dickinson State Park with her family, friends and Girl Scouts troupe.
When she heard about the Great Outdoors Initiative on Aug. 20, she immediately posted a petition on Change.org and anticipated getting about 300 signatures. The petition had 102,200 signatures as of Tuesday morning
"I wanted to make sure that it was a very simple, very easy thing that anybody who cared even a little bit about the issue could do," Chartley told TCPalm.
Audubon Florida: Protect Florida State Parks
Audubon Florida , an environmental nonprofit, launched a different kind of petition on Aug. 20. A platform on its website allows people to email the governor and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Over 30,000 people had submitted comments as of Tuesday morning, according to Executive Director Julie Wraithmell.
Brian Mast: 'Protect Jonathan Dickinson State Park'
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast , R-Fort Pierce, launched a petition on his website Aug. 26.
"The group (Tuskegee Dunes Foundation) backing out is good progress, but it is not the end of the fight," Mast wrote in a Facebook post. "We must stay vigilant because we do not know what happens next. We can't let them pull a fast one by letting our guard down."
Thousands of people had signed it as of Monday evening, according to Mast spokesperson Savanah Bustin.
Gayle Harrell: Protect our State Parks
Florida Sen. Gayle Harrell , R-Stuart, started a petition to support a bill she plans to file to protect "all our natural treasures from misguided ideas like the one proposing golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park."
Harrell represents Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties. The next legislative session begins March 4.
- How to sign: Provide your first and last name, email, address and hit "click here to sign the petition."
- Link: "Protect our State Parks "
Nine state parks in the Great Outdoors Initiative
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com , 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene .
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 4 petitions oppose Great Outdoors Initiative, Jonathan Dickinson golf courses
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