TALLAHASSEE- In preparation for its 75th Anniversary next year, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service today announced 25 signature events that will take place statewide throughout 2010. The year-long celebration and signature events will highlight three quarters of a century of preserving the past while looking to the future.

“Since 1935, millions of visitors have experienced the magnificence of Florida’s white sandy beaches, vast open prairies, lush semi-tropical forests, cultural sites and crystal clear springs at Florida State Parks and we are proud to celebrate this milestone,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Bob Ballard. “Affordable family friendly activities such as swimming, hiking, bicycling, paddling, diving, fishing, camping, birding, events and ranger-led tours are just a few ways people enjoy our natural resources.”

The 25 signature events taking place throughout 2010 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary will highlight individual parks’ histories, as well as the history of the state park system as a whole. From Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, who constructed Florida’s first state parks, to the individuals who helped Florida acquire more than 700,000 acres and create one of the country’s premier park systems; 2010 will be a celebration of Florida State Parks’ rich history and promising future.

“The 75th Anniversary of the Florida state park system represents an important milestone in the state’s history, showing the foresight of Florida’s early leaders to preserve valuable pieces of the state’s landscape,” said DEP’s Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “We are very grateful for the overwhelming support of Florida’s citizens and visitors over the last 75 years and also to the staff and volunteers who maintain the state park system on a daily basis.”

The schedule of 75th Anniversary signature events is as follows:

Saturday, January 2 – Sunday, January 3: Dade Battle Reenactment at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Bushnell.

Tuesday, January 26: Lu the Hippo’s 50th Birthday Bash at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa.

Friday, February 12- Sunday, February 14: 34th Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Olustee at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Olustee.

Saturday, February 27: Flight to Freedom at Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine.

Saturday, March 13- Sunday, March 14: Azalea Festival at Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka.

Friday, March 19- Saturday, March 20: Wakulla Wildlife Festival at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Wakulla Springs.

Wednesday, April 7: Florida State Parks Day at the Florida Capitol Building, Tallahassee.

Saturday, April 24: Burial of Time Capsule at O’Leno State Park, High Springs.

Sunday, May 16: Armed Forces Appreciation Day – Free entry to all state parks except Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

Friday, May 28- Sunday, May 30: Florida Folk Festival at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs.

Thursday, June 17: 75th Anniversary Celebration at the Museum of Florida History, Tallahassee.

Monday, June 21- Friday, June25: Eco Adventure Days at Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka.

Sunday, July 4: Old Fashioned 4th of July Picnic at The Barnacle Historic State Park, Coconut Grove.

Saturday, July 17: National Recreation and Park Month – Free entry to all state parks except Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. Launch of Geocaching program at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Southeast District.

Saturday, August 7: National Lighthouse Day Celebration at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne.

Saturday, August 14- Sunday, August 15: Former Mermaid Show at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee Springs.

Thursday, September 9: State Park Literacy Month, Butterfly Story Time event at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Palm Coast.

Friday, September 10- Sunday, September 12: State Park Literacy Month – Free entry to all state parks except Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

Saturday, September 18- Sunday, September 19: Spanish American War Event at Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach.

October (all month): Fall Harvest Days at Dudley Farm Historic State Park, Newberry.

Saturday, October 16: Fall Festival at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka.

Saturday, November 6: 25th Annual Civilian Conservation Corps Festival at Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring.

Thursday, November 11: Veterans Day – Free entry to all state parks except Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

Saturday, December 4: Camellia Christmas celebration at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, Tallahassee.

Saturday, December 11: 50th Anniversary Celebration of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo.

To learn more about 75th Anniversary events, contests and discounts visit www.FloridaStateParks.org, and follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLStateParks. 

Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, Florida’s state parks have grown from eight to 160 parks over the last 75 years, and are overseen by the DEP Florida Park Service. Today, the Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of Florida’s natural environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National Historic Landmarks and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida State Parks has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association as the nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the nation’s best park service.