MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — You called and emailed elected leaders and protested a proposal to build three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County.

It even became the topic of our “Let’s Hear It” event in August.

The controversial proposal would have developed golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels in Florida’s national parks.

Your voices have been heard!

The development of eight state parks has been filed after sparking major opposition and a huge public outcry this summer.

Part of the reason this became a hot topic so far was due to a Facebook group called “Protect Jonathan Dickinson State Park.”

Jessica Namath created the page in hopes of educating and informing people in one place.

“I knew something was going to happen and we had to act,” Namath said. “I knew that we all needed to have information very quickly and that everyone had the right information. »

The page now has nearly 50,000 members.

“I can’t even comprehend this size, this number,” Namath said. “It’s overwhelming, of course. But again, I like to believe that’s how much Floridians care about what you see here.

It has become a massive movement to protect all parks. To date, members are talking about protecting other parks across the state, like Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Public pressure works. In October, Palm Beach County commissioners unanimously approved a new resolution to better protect more than 31,000 acres of county-owned natural areas.

While this is a major step forward in land protection, Namath said she plans to keep the entire local and state community engaged. They already rallied and she said they would rally again.

“Continuing to make our voices heard is what we’re focused on right now on the page,” Namath said.