FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2004
CONTACT: Leigh Ann Asklar, (850) 245-2112

All State Parks Open for Business Following Hurricanes

--Hontoon Island State Park re-opens, all 158 parks welcoming visitors--

DELAND - Hontoon Island State Park this week welcomed its first visitors since the St. Johns River flooded the island after Hurricane Charley in August. Only three months after the four hurricanes tore across Florida, all 158 of Florida’s award winning state parks are open and again providing a gateway to natural and historic Florida.

“Thanks to the dedicated work of park staff and hundreds of volunteers, Florida State Parks are once again offering an unparalleled Florida experience,” said Florida State Parks Director Mike Bullock. “Our award-winning parks are quickly recovering after the four hurricanes, providing a natural getaway for storm weary communities and drawing visitors to boost our local economies.”

Each of the 158 state parks experienced a closure during at least one of the four storms. Due to the tireless efforts of park staff and volunteers, more than 90 percent of Florida’s state parks were open again just two weeks after the storms passed.

While parks are welcoming visitors, recovery efforts continue throughout the state. On public lands statewide, volunteers are lending a hand with hurricane recovery through Take Pride in Florida, a volunteer program to protect and preserve America’s public lands and foster a culture of service in others. Launched last month by Governor Jeb Bush, the initiative has already received more than 415,000 pledged hours of service.

Florida's state park system is one of the largest in the country with 158 parks covering more than 700,000 acres. Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush, Florida added eight new parks and more than 203,000 acres to its nationally-renowned park system. Last year, Florida’s state parks attracted a record-breaking 19.1 million visitors.