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TALLAHASSEE- The State of Florida today re-opened
all award-winning state parks affected by Hurricane
Katrina, providing a gateway to natural and historic
Florida.
“Thank you to the dedicated park staff and hundreds
of volunteers that enabled the speedy recovery of
Florida’s State Parks affected by Hurricane Katrina,”
said Florida State Parks Director Mike Bullock. “Our
award-winning parks are once again offering an
unparalleled Florida experience to visitors, improving
local economies and providing a natural getaway for
storm weary communities.”
While parks are welcoming visitors, recovery efforts
continue throughout the state. On public lands
statewide, volunteers are lending a hand with hurricane
recovery. Last fiscal year, volunteers in Florida’s park
service contributed more than 1 million hours saving tax
payers $18.4 million.
Florida's state park system is one of the largest in
the country with 159 parks covering more than 720,000
acres. Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush,
Florida added nine new parks and more than 240,000 acres
to its nationally-renowned park system. This year,
Florida’s state parks are once again a finalist for the
Gold Medal Award which honors agencies throughout the
United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range
planning, resource management, citizen support systems,
environmental stewardship, program development,
professional development and agency recognition
For more information about Florida State Parks, visit
www.FloridaStateParks.org.
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