Would Making This Florida National Forest Into A National Park Lead To Overtourism?

Florida's lush Ocala National Forest is beloved for its wildlife and turquoise lakes, but it became the focus of a heated discussion in September 2025. Florida Congressman Randy Fine introduced bill H.R. 4656 to study whether Ocala National Forest, along with some other nearby lands, could be designated as a new national park. (Here are 15 facts you probably didn't know about America's national parks.) Fine said it would be named Florida Springs National Park and praised it as beneficial for conservation and tourism. However, not everyone is on board with this idea, and some worry it could lead to overdevelopment, environmental damage, and overtourism.

In response to the bill, one resident named Bobbi Jo Dameron launched a Change.org petition to round up voices opposing the bill. "We, the undersigned, strongly oppose H.R. 4656, introduced by Representative Randy Fine, which could open the door to unsustainable tourism and commercialization in the Ocala National Forest," the petition reads. "While we value public access to natural spaces, this bill threatens the long-term health of one of Florida's most ecologically sensitive regions." Some of the concerns listed in the petition include environmental damage from increased tourism, strained infrastructure, and loss of cultural identity.

But Fine argues the bill is only proposing a study to consider the idea and the public's viewpoint won't be ignored. "I'm not waving a magic wand here and creating a national park," Fine said to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "If passed, the concerns and input of everyone will go into the final study to figure out the right way to do this. We're still several steps away from creating a national park, and we aren't doing that without your input." The bill has only been introduced, so it has several votes to go through before any moves are made.

Supporters say elevating the forest's status would bring more federal protection, funding, and greater visibility to springs that environmental reports suggest are under pressure. As Fine said in a statement (via WESH 2 News): "The idea of it is to commemorate our Florida springs and the surrounding areas on a level like the Everglades or Yellowstone or Yosemite. Our Florida springs are something unique, not just to Florida but to the country." Jonathan Rubin, president and executive director of the Clean Earth Initiative, is also on board. He said: "National parks not only protect ecosystems, but they also create tourism, provide educational opportunities, and foster healthy, vibrant communities. That's why this region needs to be a national park, not just a national forest," (via Daily Commercial).

On the other hand, critics worry designating Ocala as a national park would lead to a tourism boom the region isn't prepared for. "We don't have any hotels out here, limited gas stations, and just a handful of restaurants," Bobbie Jo Dameron, creator of the petition, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "Mass development would have to take place, and as a resident in the forest, it would be a nightmare." People also worry about the effects on the ecosystem. "There is so little of the real, natural Florida left," petition signer Lisa said. "We need to protect every bit that we have remaining from development and tourism destruction (just look at what's happened to our springs and wildlife habitats)."

Ultimately, the proposal rests on balancing the protection of natural resources with sustainable tourism. We'll have to wait and see if officials can thread that needle, but the pushback is strong — the Change.org petition has more than 8,000 signatures at the time of writing.