26-495: [REDACTED] There are 175 state parks and 9 state trails in the U.S. state of Florida which encompass more than 800,000 acres (320,000 ha), providing recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists. Almost half of the state parks have an associated local 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, often styled, "Friends of { park name } State Park, Inc.". In 2015, some 29,356 volunteers donated nearly 1.3 million hours to enhance
52-508: A much smaller extent charitable contributions. Many state parks have an associated local non-profit corporation. Most parks charge an entrance fee. Residents can purchase an annual entrance pass that is valid at any of the parks. Camping is available in campsites in some of the parks. All reservations for park facilities are handled through the private corporation ReserveAmerica . The Florida State Parks website (floridastateparks.org) provides an updated online guide to all parks. On 19 August 2024
78-483: A sense of place by showing park visitors the best of Florida's diverse natural and cultural sites. Florida's state parks are managed and preserved for enjoyment by this and future generations through providing appropriate resource-based recreational opportunities, interpretation and education that help visitors connect to the Real Florida." Several state parks were formerly private tourist attractions purchased by
104-582: Is a Florida State Park in Wakulla County , Florida , United States. This 6,000 acre (24 km ) wildlife sanctuary, located south of Tallahassee , is listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and designated a National Natural Landmark . The park draws its name from Edward Ball , the DuPont family financial manager who sold the park lands to the state of Florida. He built
130-631: Is a Florida State Park , and historic site located in Martin County , Florida , between Hobe Sound and Tequesta . The park includes the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center and a variety of natural habitats: sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods , mangroves , and river swamps . The Loxahatchee River , designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1985 (the first in Florida), runs through
156-642: Is a fishing pier and one is a recreation area. Seven parks are mostly undeveloped with few or no facilities; 10 parks are accessible only by private boat or ferry; and 13 parks contain National Natural Landmarks . Additionally, there are eleven national parks and service sites in Florida locations under control of the National Park Service . Florida State Parks are supported by tax dollars (document stamps), user fees, and to
182-660: Is the division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection responsible for the operation of Florida State Parks , and won the Gold Medal honoring the best state park system in the country in 1999 and 2005 from the National Recreation and Park Association . They were also finalists in the 1997 and 2011 competitions. The Park Service was awarded the gold medal again in October 2013, making it
208-531: The Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center , with exhibits about the park's natural and cultural history. The park operates a 44-passenger boat for tours of Trapper Nelson's homestead . Jonathan Dickinson State Park was used to film the first segment of the second episode of BBC 's Walking with Monsters , set in Late Carboniferous Kansas . Popular Mountain bike channels on YouTube such as BKXC and BCPOV have featured
234-405: The state legislature to increase conservation land, said: "Our vision did not contemplate the addition of golf courses and hotels, which in my view are not in-line with the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature. From what I know at this time, the proposal should not move forward in its current form." Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said that he had learned from media reports about
260-540: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced plans to build golf courses and 350-room lodges on state park lands. In statements to the Tampa Bay Times and in posts to social media, the agency claimed that the construction of a golf course on vulnerable scrub habitat will be done in a way to "minimize habitat impacts". A spokesperson for Governor Ron DeSantis, Jeremy Redfern, defended
286-662: The area that is now the park, in 1942. The camp included over 1,000 buildings, and housed more than 6,000 officers and soldiers. The camp was deactivated in 1944, after only two years of operation. Most of the camp buildings were torn down, but some of the building foundations remain. The property was transferred to the State of Florida in 1947, and opened as a state park in 1950. Park amenities include bicycling , boat tours, boating , cabins , canoeing , fishing , hiking , horse trails , kayaking , picnicking areas, swimming , wildlife viewing and full camping facilities. It also has
SECTION 10
#1732793702268312-612: The coast to St. Augustine . A man known as Trapper Nelson homesteaded on the banks of the Loxahatchee River after coming to the area in the 1930s, living off the land trapping and selling furs. He soon became known as the Wildman of the Loxahatchee . After he died in 1968 the state acquired his land, and deeded it to the park. The United States Army established Camp Murphy , a top-secret radar training school, in
338-542: The construction of disc golf courses, pickleball courts, and cabins. Three of the affected parks are in the Panhandle district in Panama City represented by state senator Jay Trumbull (R). He wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that he remains in "strong opposition" and exhorted other lawmakers in the legislature to follow suit. Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, who has lobbied in
364-446: The director of Florida's state parks between 2017 and 2021, stated that it appeared that the agency sidestepped the legal process. The Times also noted that Albert Gregory, the former state chief of park planning, said the state was "hop-scotching some important steps". Note: The table of contents only applies when the list is sorted by park name. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
390-518: The governor and the accelerated process driving state plans to develop golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park . The park, on the Atlantic coast of Florida, contains the largest area of protected scrub jay habitat in southeast Florida. An unusual bipartisan showing of elected officials in the state Legislature, Cabinet and the US Congress expressed opposition to the plans, which include
416-445: The lodge in 1937. His trust posthumously sold the tract to the state in 1986. Paleo Indians are known to have camped at the spring 12,000 years ago, where they hunted mastodons , bison , and other ancient animals. The bottom of the spring bowl is littered with bones of mastodons, giant sloths , giant armadillos , and camels . Glass bottom boat tours no longer operate due to a decrease in water clarity, but standard boat tours of
442-529: The only three-time winner. In 2019, they received the gold medal award again, resulting in them being the first four-time winner. The parks are open year-round and offer diverse activities beyond fishing, hiking and camping. Many parks offer facilities for birding or horseback riding; there are several battle reenactments; and freshwater springs and beaches are Florida's gems. According to the Florida Park Service website, their goal "is to help create
468-550: The park. The park is also along the Ocean to Lake Trail . The park is at 16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound. The park is well known for its Camp Murphy Mountain Bike Trails. The park is named after Jonathan Dickinson , a Quaker merchant who was shipwrecked in 1696, with his family and others, on the Florida coast near the present-day park. He wrote a journal describing their encounters with local tribes, and their journey up
494-408: The parks for approximately 31 million visitors. There is a mostly nominal admission to nearly all Florida's state parks, although separate fees are charged for the use of cabins, marinas, campsites, etc. Florida's state parks offer 3,613 family campsites, 186 cabins, thousands of picnic tables, 100 miles (160 km) of beaches, and over 2,600 miles (4,200 km) of trails. The Florida Park Service
520-667: The plans, saying "it's high time we made public lands more accessible to the public." DeSantis, an enthusiastic golfer, controls the Department of Environmental Protection, and has increased his influence over the agency in comparison to former governors. In an unprecedented move that critics said violated state law, he unilaterally appointed its secretary without approval by other members of the Florida Cabinet. The Tampa Bay Times also reported that US Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) joined local officials in criticizing
546-809: The south where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico . Sally Ward Spring and Cherokee Sink are located within the Park, while Leon Sinks Geological Area is nearby and part of the same karst system. The Park contains the Wakulla Springs Lodge , which functions as a hotel. The park has such amenities as birding , boat tours (water contamination makes glass-bottomed boat tours now rare ), cabins , hiking , horse trails , picnicking areas, snorkeling , swimming , and wildlife viewing. An interpretive exhibit and concessions are also available Jonathan Dickinson State Park Jonathan Dickinson State Park
SECTION 20
#1732793702268572-474: The spring and river operate all year. Fifty-four archaeological sites have been identified in the park. Excavation of part of the Wakulla Springs Lodge site (8WA329) found successive strata of artifacts from 20th century, Seminole , Fort Walton culture , Weeden Island culture , Norwood culture , Archaic , and Paleoindian occupations. The park has three nature trail systems which lead
598-529: The state of Florida to preserve their natural environment. These parks include the Silver Springs State Park , Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park , Rainbow Springs State Park , and Weeki Wachee Springs . There are state parks in 58 of Florida's 67 counties . Nine of the 175 parks do not have "State Park" in their name. Four are " conservation areas " (reserve, preserve, or wildlife refuge); three are "Historical/Archaeological sites"; one
624-440: The state park development plan, and that he has "serious concerns". He issued a statement saying, "(We) have to be really careful when we talk about building infrastructure on state parks. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should." Environmental groups and former park officials agreed that the agency was trying to limit the public comment-gathering process. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Eric Draper, who served as
650-440: The visitor through pine forests , bald cypress wetlands and hardwood hammock . Hikers, bicyclists and horse riders are welcome. The wildlife found in the forest includes white-tailed deer , wild turkey , and many other bird species, while American alligators , bass , gar , various snakes , and West Indian manatee (during the winter) populate the springs , swamps , and river . It contains Wakulla Springs , one of
676-689: The world's largest and deepest first-order freshwater springs and an exit point of the Floridan Aquifer . Wakulla Springs' highest outflow has been measured at 860,000 U.S. gallons per minute (54 m /s). The spring's average flow is about 400,000 US gallons per minute (25 m /s). The opening of the spring is 180 feet (55 m) down, through which cave divers , especially those of the Woodville Karst Plain Project have explored many miles of its underwater tunnels. The spring gives rise to Wakulla River which flows several miles to
#267732