PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A proposal from Florida's Department of Environmental Protections that could change state parks is receiving a lot of criticism from residents, environmental groups and politicians. 

In the proposal, pickleball courts, golf courses, log cabins and more would be built in state parks across the state.

Protesters picketted at Honeymoon Island state park over the issue both Saturday and Sunday.

"I've never ever heard a single person who's come to this beach say we need pickleball courts," said protester Michelle Birnbaum

Kira Barrera, the Conservation Chair for the Suncoast Sierra Club said state parks are special places and she doesn't want to see anything happen that may damage them and the wildlife.

"The state parks motto is to experience real Florida and you still truly get to do that here," she said. 

Public meetings were originally planned for Aug. 27 but have since been pushed back to the week of Sept. 2.

The DEP said the meetings were pushed back due to overwhelming interest.

"I think the DEP was caught off-guard by the public's outcry," Barrera said. "The way they've handled this whole process seems to go against all of their best management practices for the state parks."

In a statement shared with Spectrum Bay News 9 from the governor's office, they said there will be multiple phases of discussion and that "No administration has done more than we have to conserve Florida’s natural resources, grow conservation lands, and keep our environment pristine. But it's high time we made public lands more accessible to the public." 

On the Florida State Parks website, there is a survey you can fill out to share your thoughts on the park proposals.