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.
Paul Larkin says
Does something smell rotten in Denmark???
bill says
all these politicians are concerned with is moving up in the government local county state sell out the citizens to the developers and the builders as well , it’s all about the “DOLLAR”
T says
Noo fine is garbage
D. Francis says
NO! Absolutely NOT! I will have to stop reading news in the morning. I can’t take much more of this insanity. I have a toilet with more intellect that Randy Not-So-Fine! Excuse me. I’ll be in the corner screaming.
Jane Gentile Youd says
Please keep your ‘not-so-Fine’ hands OFF of OUR state protected parks from even thinking about re-classifying golf, hotels, marinas as ‘public amenities’ . Your buddy de Satan was forced to sign a bill protecting OUR state land from private development so fagetta ’bout even thinking we believe your interest in the feds taking over our parks is altruistic. Thanks for getting the overdue almost $9million but don’t ask for such an outrageous repayment !
Skibum says
Yeah, right, lol. With the felon in the WH and his gang of misfits running things, plus Florida’s current dystopian and gerrymandered state government, any possible draw for additional tourists from this ridiculous distraction motivated scheme would most likely be due to an amusement park type of desire to gawk at the clowns.
Michael Cocchiola says
Do not believe a word Fine says. There’s a scam brewing, and he’s on the hunt.
Get rid of Fine in 2026. Shovel him out with the remnants of Alligator Alley.
Pogo says
@The past is prologue
@”… Of one of the oldest and loveliest groves of redwoods, he said (on 15 March 1967), “I saw them; there is nothing beautiful about them, just that they are a little higher than the others.”…”
— Ronald Reagan
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/if-youve-seen-one-tree/
“… Reagan had a stubborn streak … and his statements in part reflected his unwillingness to be pushed around by environmental groups.
Eventually, as is often the case, the issue was settled by a political compromise worked out through federal government. In 1968, Congress authorized the creation of the 58,000-acre Redwood National Park, which included 27,500 acres of state parkland as well as 5,000 acres of coastal property in Del Norte and Humboldt counties that were ceded to the state of California by lumber companies; in return, 13,000 acres of Forest Service land in Del Norte County (known as the Northern Redwood Purchase Unit) were transferred to the lumber companies.”
— Ibid
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/if-youve-seen-one-tree/
A preview of casino wheeler dealers like Trump and Fine’s schemes for Florida’s next national park?
Lynne says
And with the cuts to funding for the current National Parks, who does he think is going to manage all this new stuff?
Suggestion says
‘… “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,” …’
How about federalizing the Epic theater in Town Center?
It’s technically in the nation, it’s practically part of a national park (think like, Death Valley), and it’s for the recreation of the nationals.
One could argue it’s also a monument of sorts.
But most importantly, it’s endangered.
Just an opinion.
Frances Royals says
This is an absolutely horrible plan put forth by Mr. Fine. I worked at Princess Place for 5 years and I know it well. None of our preserves or parks should be “federalized.” God only knows what could happen to them and trust me “preservation” is the last thing on the minds of these politicians. It’s all about money. At the rate development is going preserves and parks will eventually be all that is left of the natural world. When I worked at the preserve, Benjie Cauley who was in charge of Parks and Recreations, told me something that I never forgot. He said one day people would visit places like Princess Place because there would be no more natural lands for people to enjoy. Flagler County has done a great job protecting its green spaces. It’s important to keep control local not Federal. Those of us who live here love and value these green spaces and have worked to protect them. I don’t believe Mr. Fine even lives in Flagler County. Perhaps that is the reason that he has no attachment, understanding or love for these areas. Please don’t tell me that this is being done to “protect” them. I will never believe that and if this should go through future generations will see our beautiful County change in ways that we would never have thought possible.
Pogo says
@Lynne said
“And with the cuts to funding for the current National Parks, who does he think is going to manage all this new stuff?”
And there it is — practically nobody; and that will suit Fine, just fine. The spring water to the bottlers (already a big thing in Florida), trees to the loggers, accommodating and convenient land swaps for highways to developer hell — the Florida panther, manatees, anyone, anything, in the path of the bagman and his masters, will be ever closer to extinction, so the fat cats can cannonball into their money vaults like Disney comic book characters.
Like all the rest of the age of Trump: the absurd enormity and shamelessness of the crassness, vulgarity, destructiveness, and uselessness is beyond parody — applauded and celebrated by villains, numbly acquiesced to by the rest of us as chaos consumes everything.
Dave W says
“Acquisition” is the key word. ‘Cui bono’ is operative concept. Unsubstantiated massive increase in tourism is the faked promise sales pitch. This is about sticking snouts into the federal trough.
Laurel says
Pogo is absolutely right. By cutting funds, and employees, from the parks, they eventually decline, and the people won’t want to visit. Then, the politicians, like Fine, have reason to develop. It’s a nasty plan, and the planners of these schemes should be removed from office.
Instead, watch Ken Burn’s “The National Parks, America’s Best Idea” on PBS…while you still can. Also, “National Parks Adventure” narrated by Robert Redford.
Luanne says
I don’t think Trump has anything to do with this. I believe that Mr. fine is being wined and dined by a state conservation group more interested in shutting these lands off from the public. It has been tried here before.
Flagler County is doing just fine, MISTER Fine. Keep your fingers off our already protected resources here. They belong to the people of Flagler County. Keep this up and you WILL be replaced.
Laurel says
As it is now, you have to get to a spring park early to get a parking spot. There is no lack of tourism.
Luanne: Do a little research on Trump’s view about our National Parks. Fine is Trump’s puppet. He has as much as said so himself while running for his seat in the House of U.S. Representatives…if you can imagine.
Pogo says
@Luanne
Your sentiment is logical, too; your stated basis is mistaken: a national park — is — public property.
Related
https://www.google.com/search?q=self+contradiction
“… I don’t think Trump has anything to do with this…” Wrong, period: the record is clear; that much money never quits: it won’t go broke from waiting, “temporary defeats” (all defeats) are only delays. It (the money) is like water — with lawyers. It finds, or not finding creates, a crack, a hole, whatever, and flows where it will. The laws of motion, and thermodynamics, come to mind.
https://www.google.com/search?q=trump+on+selling+public+property
Smells familiar
https://www.google.com/search?q=desantis+on+selling+public+property
Waving goodbye to Fine — brilliant — well said.
RWBoggess says
All of these comments are worthless unless each and every one of us gets out and votes!! And not vote for a party, but for the person that will represents “We the People” and uphold the word and spirit of the Constitution! If we don’t, no one else will. The politicians and developers in recent weeks – particularly the developers – have shown they are not acting in the best interest of the people but their pocketbooks and bank accounts. There is not one person, at this point in time, on the city commission that is acting with 100% integrity – they have placed the political party or the developer before the citizens they profess to represent.
Pierre Tristam says
RWBoggess I respect the sentiment and on the whole might agree that many non-voters don’t vote out of irresponsibility rather than conviction. But we live in a free society, and the act of non-voting is owed as much consideration as the act of voting: it is a legitimate form of expression, if not protest. There are surely enough reasons to be disgusted with our choices that being forced to vote for one is not often the seemliest thing to honor the country, so gerrymandered in graft, we still pretend to be a republic.
Luann says
RW Boggess,
Where is your proof, sir? It is a simple question. Let’s see it.
Suggestion says
Town Center.
Yup, think “Death Valley” … of course without all its unique natural charm and other desirable qualities.
Just a quick clarification.
Villein says
The suggestion to federalize anything at this juncture is foolish. Send the parks to the states seems likely in the future. Managing Princess Place is one of the few things Flagler County has done right.