Former State Employee Says He Was Fired for Sharing Florida State Park Development Plans

James Gaddis, 41, leaked what he called ‘atrocious proposals,’ which called for new cabins, ‘glamping’ sites, and pickleball courts.

A map of plans to develop Florida's Topsail Hill Preserve State Park that was released on Aug. 19. Florida Department of Environmental Protection

One week after Floridians pushed back against leaked plans for development projects in nine state parks, a man claiming to be responsible for sharing the plans has come forward.

James Gaddis, 41, was employed by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for more than two years as a park planner and cartographer. He lost his job on Aug. 30, he said, because he leaked the development plans ahead of schedule.