A former employee of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been fired after leaking details about proposed plans to add golf courses, lodges, and pickleball courts to state parks. James Gaddis, a cartographer in the Office of Park Planning, revealed the ambitious proposals that sparked public outcry and ultimately led to the withdrawal of all planned changes.

Gaddis, 41, disclosed that he was personally tasked with drawing up plans for new amenities in nine state parks, including the addition of three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Feeling increasingly disturbed by the scope and nature of the proposals, he made the decision to make the information public.

The leaked documents, which began circulating on August 19, surprised both environmentalists and DEP employees. Some initially doubted the authenticity of the plans due to their unexpected and unusual nature. Gaddis revealed that even the employees responsible for creating the plans initially believed it to be a joke.

Governor Ron DeSantis and the DEP were forced to withdraw the proposed park additions in response to the statewide public outcry. The Tuskegee Dunes Foundation and Folds of Honor, groups advocating for the golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson, also pulled their support for the project.

In an interview with The Palm Beach Post, Gaddis expressed his concerns about the secretive nature of the project and the pressure he and his colleagues faced. He revealed that they were instructed not to discuss the plans with their coworkers and that he received numerous edits to his draft plans, which he believes came from the Governor's office.

Gaddis, who had been employed at the DEP for over two years and is a single father to an 11-year-old girl, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his expenses until he finds another job. He emphasized that he was the sole person involved in the leak and expressed worry about potential repercussions for his former coworkers.

The DEP has not commented on Gaddis' firing, citing their policy of not discussing personnel matters. However, environmentalists raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the project and the limited opportunities for public input, as meetings were scheduled for just one hour simultaneously across the state.

Governor DeSantis addressed the public backlash, disavowing the park projects and referring to them as "half-baked" and "nowhere near ready for prime time." While DeSantis acknowledged that the nonprofit organization Folds of Honor was behind the golf course plans, he made it clear that the projects would not proceed if they were not supported by the public.

Critics, including former DEP director Eric Draper, believe that the Governor's office played a significant role in pushing the controversial proposals, and the DEP's enthusiastic defense of the plans raised questions about their decision-making process.

Gaddis, hailed as a hero on social media for his courage, was terminated for his involvement in leaking the park plans. His dismissal letter cited violations of department policies and acting in a manner unbecoming of a public employee.

As of now, Gaddis' GoFundMe campaign has exceeded its initial goal, reaching $57,000 in donations. Despite the repercussions he has faced, Gaddis remains steadfast in his belief that someone had to speak up to put an end to what he referred to as "madness."

The incident has shed light on the importance of transparency and public involvement in decision-making processes that impact public lands and natural resources.