U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, whose district includes Flagler County, wants to federalize Pellicer Creek, Princess Place, Crescent Lake, Lake Disston and Haw Creek Preserve, all of which are in Flagler County in whole or in part.
He wants to federalize De León Springs, Blue Spring, Faver Dykes State Parks, Ocala National Forest and many other preserves, springs and parks.
In all, he wants to federalize 1.8 million acres or 2,800 square miles of Florida land–4.2 percent of the state’s land mass–between Jacksonville, Gainesville Orlando and Daytona Beach into what he would call Florida Springs National Park.
It would be larger than the Everglades, and the third-largest national park in the continental United States after Death Valley and Yellowstone.
The reason? “Number one, to make sure that we’re protecting these extraordinary places in the world,” he said. “But second, and this is a big deal for the communities that I represent, to create a massive increase in the level of tourism that these sites visit.”
Fine addressed the issue during a press conference on beach funding Wednesday at Flagler County’s Emergency Operations Center. (Fine today issued a release about that press conference, when he took credit for securing $8.8 million in Federal Emergency Management Administration money to repair beaches damaged during Hurricane Milton. “After the long, five-year wait for reimbursement, these funds will allow critical beach restoration to move forward,” the release states. Hurricane Milton struck 10 months ago.)
Fine was asked about his interest in federalizing such places as the Ocala National Forest. “Let me reject the premise of your question,” he said, before proceeding to explain why he is interested in federalizing so much more.
He did not say he would either reverse the large National Parks System staffing cuts under President Trump and previous presidents nor increase funding for the system, which has been under increasing strain.
The National Parks system’s 433 properties, which include national parks, monuments, memorials, historic sites, preserves, recreation areas and parkways, drew 331.9 million visitors last year, breaking the 2016 record.
Between 2011 and 2022, the National Park Service’s employee ranks dropped by 3,400, or 15 percent, according to the Department of the Interior. In February, President Trump fired 1,000 National Park employees in February. The National Parks Conservation Association in July reported that the park system’s permanent workforce has dropped 24 percent since Trump took office.
On July 23 Fine introduced the “Path to Florida Springs National Park Act.” It directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a national park that would include the 2,800 square miles of land. The study is to “ evaluate the national significance” of the area, but also “consider other alternatives for preservation,” whether by government or “private and nonprofit organizations,” and “identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition.”
Fine spoke of his visits to numerous national parks with his children. “When I ran for Congress, I started touring our Florida springs,” he said. (He was elected with Trump’s backing on April 1 in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Mike Waltz, who for 42 days was Trump’s national security adviser.) “And as I toured Florida springs, I said, these are as nice and extraordinary as any of these sites that I’ve seen elsewhere in the country.” He thought Florida’s springs deserve the same protection.
“It might be a national park, it might be a national monument, it might be a National Recreation Area, it could be some combination of the three,” he said. Florida is not hurting for tourists: it drew 34.4 million tourists in the second quarter of 2025, a record.
The bill has no co-sponsors. It’s been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, whose chairman, Bruce Westerman an Arkansas Republican, is from the city of Hot Springs.
Flagler County officials have asked Fine to help them federalize about 10 miles of shoreline in Flagler County, to protect the beach from continuing erosion–a much smaller lift than federalizing 2,800 square miles. The request is pending.
Jim says
Let’s federalize everything! God knows the Feds are doing a wonderful job of running things! And let’s forget about state’s rights! Just put the Fed’s in charge.
Randy Fine is an idiot. He’s the sole sponsor because this is just a BS move on his part. It’s not going anywhere. I guess he thinks this gets him some kind of voter support. I’m not sure how he figures that but…
I hope we can find someone else to run for his seat in 2026. We can’t do much worse….
Thomas Hutson says
Pugsley, Pugsley oh Pugsley “aka” r Fine do you have any idea where you are?? This b—sh-t proves without a doubt your mentality, stay away from the koolaid! It’s having a negative affect on you and your delusional thinking!!
Dan Leonard says
What’s in this for Randy Fine and DTJ and family and friends?
Pogo says
@Fine (and his “silent partners”)
… probably have the paper work (shell companies, cut-outs, etc.) waiting like loaded weapons — to get busy with selling leases for drilling, logging, land swaps, etc. Lowlifes like him can clean the bones of a kill better than a million ants working 24/7.
There is no bottom when it comes to these grave diggers.
Laurel says
Oh for God’s sake. Maybe we can call the project Margaritaville Springs, and then add pickle ball courts. How about a couple of hotels? I can’t take these politicians anymore, they are incredibly depressing. It was bad enough seeing our county reps fawning over Fine in hopes of receiving cash, already allocated, for the beach.
We know that Trump (Fine does as Trump wants loyally) has no respect for nature (I’m not sure he knows what it is), and our National Parks. He wants to drill for oil, sell off acres and cut down trees for lumber (rather than keep our neighbor Canada an ally), in our time honored, precious National Parks. As stated in the article, Florida has no need for supposed additional tourism.
So, Fine, you just started visiting the springs? Where are you from? Idiotville? Go away Fine, and leave Florida alone. Our springs are already drawing plenty of people. Something’s in it for you, isn’t there? Wasn’t the word “private” in there somewhere? Yeah, man, we got your number.
FederalizePalmCoast says
@ Jim – breathe, Jim.
Trust the government says
Let’s just give it to the government
Look how good that worked for the native American Indians
Deborah Coffey says
What part of “NO” doesn’t he understand?
Suspicious says
I suspect after he accomplishes this Federalizing project, he will some time in the future, propose legislation to rename “Florida Springs National Park’ to “Trump National Park”, to further ingratiate himself with the MAGA people. I also suspect that the freeing up of those FEMA funds are a covert attempt to booster Fine in the upcoming election to ensure this Mega-MAGA fool gets re-elected into the position. Why is it that I no longer trust the motives of politicians? Especially for those with higher political office aspirations. Seems like lately, Flagler County has become a major stepping stone from local politics to national politics.