Florida State Parks Celebrate Record-Breaking Year

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida state parks are celebrating new records from the 2007-08 fiscal year; more than 20.7 million visitors experienced Florida’s 161 award-winning state parks, and nearly 1.2 million volunteer hours were contributed - both record highs.

“Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, DEP Secretary Mike Sole and the Florida Legislature, Florida’s state parks continue to provide opportunities for Floridians that are cost-effective and close to home,” said Bob Ballard, DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation. “With an emphasis on affordability and customer service, Florida’s state park system preserves natural landscapes and cultural sites, and provides unmatched recreational and educational experiences for visitors from the state, nation and world.”

Last fiscal year (July 2007 - June 2008), Florida’s state parks welcomed a record-setting 20.7 million visitors, a 6.2 percent increase from last year. Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin welcomed the most visitors, with more than one million individuals served. South Florida parks also were popular among visitors, with Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne receiving more than 890,000 visitors and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo welcoming almost 880,000 visitors. More than 878,000 guests visited St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, and Sebastian Inlet State Park in Melbourne Beach served more than 830,000 visitors. Based on the National Park Service’s Money Generation Model, these visitor numbers generated more than $1 billion for Florida’s economy last fiscal year.

In addition, Florida State Parks celebrated a record number of volunteer hours contributed. Last fiscal year, more than 6,000 park volunteers contributed an all-time high of almost 1.2 million hours of work to the State, valued at $22.5 million – an increase of more than 121,000 hours from the previous fiscal year. Volunteers contribute in a variety of ways to help maintain the natural beauty of Florida’s beaches, waterways and trails, participating as interpreters, educators, tour guides, greeters, landscape artists, and wildlife and resource custodians. The work of Florida’s park volunteers is equivalent to 555 full-time employment positions.

“State parks provide numerous opportunities for Florida’s citizens to get involved in their communities,” said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “The contributions of park volunteers help make Florida’s state parks a place where families and individuals can experience Florida’s rich and diverse natural and cultural environment."

“Florida’s tourism industry is pleased – but not surprised – by the record number of people from throughout the world who enjoy our beautiful state parks,” said Richard Goldman, Senior Vice President of Amelia Island Plantation and VISIT FLORIDA Board Chairman. “Florida’s park system provides natural beauty and wide-ranging activities that enable it to stand as not only a thriving and important element of Florida tourism, but also as a shining example of state pride and history.”

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 161 parks spanning almost 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-around outdoor activities for all ages. Battle re-enactments and Native American festivals celebrate Florida’s unique history, while art shows, museums and lighthouses offer a window into Florida’s cultural heritage. Florida’s state parks are also home to the 2008 Best Beach in the nation, Caladesi Island State Park, located off the coast of Southwest Florida in Pinellas County.

For more information on Florida State Parks, or for more information on volunteering, visit www.floridastateparks.org. To learn how to support Florida State Parks, visit www.floridastateparks.org/friends/default.cfm.