Time Capsule Event at O’Leno State Park Honors the 75th Anniversary of Florida State Parks

HIGH SPRINGS – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service today held a time capsule event at O’Leno State Park in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Florida State Parks. Hosted by the Florida Park Service Alumni Association, the event is one of 25 signature events taking place throughout 2010 to honor the state’s award winning state park system.

“Today’s event was a great opportunity for the community to learn about the vast history of the Florida Park Service,” said Florida State Parks Director Mike Bullock. “The time capsule will help preserve 75 years of state park traditions and teach future generations how the park service was created and evolved into what it is today.”

A few of the items placed in the time capsule included current uniform pieces, commemorative 75th Anniversary items, Florida Park Service publications, photographs and a current annual pass and passport. Event participants had an opportunity to donate personal state park related items for inclusion.

The time capsule is buried at the park with a commemorative plaque and will be resurfaced in 75 years. O’Leno State Park was selected as the time capsule site because it is one of Florida's first state parks. Developed by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s as a summer forestry camp for what was then the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Board of Forestry and Parks.

Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, the Florida State Park system has grown from eight to 160 parks in the last 75 years. 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.

To learn more about the 75th Anniversary events, and the history of Florida State Parks, visit www.floridastateparks.org/history. To follow Florida State Parks on Twitter, visit www.Twitter.com/FLStateParks.