DEP Awarded for Public Outreach Campaigns 

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recently received several prestigious awards for agency public outreach efforts. Just this week, DEP was recognized at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism for an Internet campaign promoting revenue-producing programs. Earlier this month, DEP received two awards at the 50th annual Golden Image Awards sponsored by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA).

“The hard work and creativity of DEP’s small team for statewide community and media outreach is what informs and excites Florida’s 18 million residents and 19.5 million annual visitors to our state parks about all the recreational opportunities that together bring important revenue to the state,” said DEP Chief of Staff Kelly Layman. “We are very pleased that DEP was recognized for efforts to tirelessly promote access to our state lands enjoyed by so many.”

At this week’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism, DEP received a Henry Award, the highest honor in the Flagler Awards program, for an Internet marketing campaign with the National Geographic Society promoting Florida State Parks’ Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The campaign included an interactive online map, web advertising to support the site and printed maps of the nine county region surrounding the historic Suwannee River. Visitation to state parks along the river has increased by 37 percent since the campaign began a year ago. In addition, DEP was a finalist in two other categories, “Multicultural Marketing” for the Fort Mose Historic State Park’s visitor center groundbreaking ceremony and the “Resource/Promotional Material Consumer Award” for a Suwannee River Wilderness Trail brochure.

Earlier this month at the 50th annual Golden Image Awards, DEP received the FPRA “Judge’s Award for Special Events” for the Fort Mose Historic State Park’s visitor center groundbreaking ceremony, recognizing it as an outstanding special event that achieved maximum results while using a minimum amount of money. DEP was also presented an “Award of Distinction for Film or Video Promotional/Marketing” for the Florida State Park’s Gold Medal Video. Meeting the standards of excellence set by FPRA’s panel of judges; the video was created to highlight the diversity and scope of the state park system and won Florida State Park’s second National Gold Medal for excellence in park and recreation management.

The Flagler Awards recognize excellence in tourism marketing, advertising and promotion by the state’s tourism industry. The awards are named in honor of Henry Flagler, a pioneering industrialist whose railroad down the East Coast of Florida put the state forever on the national map as a mecca for visitors and sparked Florida’s land boom. Initiated in 2000, winners in fifteen categories are chosen by an independent panel of marketing professionals and announced at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The conference, hosted annually by VISIT FLORIDA, brings together key members of Florida’s tourism sector to discuss the latest industry trends, conditions and business practices. This year’s theme, “40 Years…A Proud Past, a Bright Future,” celebrated the history and future of Florida’s tourism industry.

In 1957, the Florida Public Relations Association held its first Golden Image Awards to celebrate excellence in public relations. In the 50 years since, FPRA members have informed, inspired and persuaded the public and brought about significant changes to our state. The Golden Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence in the state of Florida. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design.

The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation’s best state park service, Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in the country with 160 parks spanning 700,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach. From swimming and diving in Florida’s rivers and springs to birding and fishing or hiking and riding on natural scenic trails, Florida’s state parks offer year-round outdoor activities for all ages. Battle reenactments and Native American festivals celebrate Florida’s unique history, while art shows, museums and lighthouses offer a window into Florida’s cultural heritage.

For more information on DEP, visit www.dep.state.fl.us. For more information on the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, visit www.visitflorida.com. For more information on the Golden Image Awards, visit www.fpra.org.