Dunedin residents speak out against plans to build pickleball courts in Honeymoon Island State Park

DUNEDIN, Florida. – Dozens of protesters gathered at the entrance to Honeymoon Island State Park this weekend to protest a proposed state development plan to build lodges, pickleball courts and other amenities at at least nine Florida parks.

““They’re proposing to put pickleball courts here on Honeymoon Island, which no one asked for,” explained one of the group’s organizers, Michelle Birnbaum. “The reason we come here is because it’s incredibly beautiful and peaceful.”

The vast barrier island park is also home to a wide variety of plant and animal species.

READ: There is growing opposition to development plans for Florida State Parks

“There are areas where you can hike to see eagle nests, owls, ospreys. No one who comes to this beautiful park, which is perhaps one of the most visited parks in the entire state, comes here asking where the pickleball courts are,” Birnbaum points out.

Avid park visitors like Birnbaum and Erik Cantie are leading local efforts to raise awareness. They founded a group called Protect Honeymoon Island State Park, and it has more than 2,000 members just days after its founding.

“Even the pickleball players don’t think it’s a good idea,” Cantie told FOX 13. “That’s something we found out on our Facebook group page. Everybody was saying, ‘Watch out for the pickleball players, they’re going to come after you.’ And that’s just not true. Everybody was saying, you know what, I don’t want to play pickleball on the beach.”

Dunedin City officials agree.

Shortly after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s plans, called “The Great Outdoor Initiative,” were announced, they released a statement.

It said:

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

The protesters indicated that they would like to see money released to make the park even more pristine for visitors.

“Let’s start with better handicapped access or renovating the restrooms,” Cantie said.

Angela Grannan, who has worked as an environmental consultant and real estate agent for more than 20 years, says locations other than nature reserves should also be considered.

““I understand the need to protect natural areas, to preserve them; and I also understand the desire to move forward and develop. The two just don’t really fit together,” Grannan explained. “Maybe you can find these areas that are less used and closer to city centers and that are accessible to others, instead of natural areas.”

The Florida DEP has postponed meetings on the proposed changes, originally scheduled for this week, “due to the overwhelming interest” in the initiative.

The meetings are expected to take place the week of September 2, but exact dates have not yet been announced.

They also launched a website for Florida residents to provide feedback. For more information, click here.

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