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DANIA - John U. Lloyd State Park and The Barnacle
Historic State Park are now welcoming their first
visitors since Hurricane Wilma closures. Only two weeks
after the hurricane tore across Florida, all 159 of
Florida’s award-winning State Parks are open and
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
hurricane, providing a natural getaway for storm weary
communities and drawing visitors to boost our local
economies.”
Of the 159 State Parks, 48 experienced closures
during Hurricane Wilma. Due to the tireless efforts of
park staff and volunteers, the parks were open again
just two weeks after the storm 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.
Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in
the country with 159 parks spanning more than 723,000
acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach. Florida State
Parks were awarded the National Recreation and Parks
Association’s Gold Medal Award, honoring Florida as the
“Nation’s Best State Park Service”. A second for
Florida, the Gold Medal honors the nation’s outstanding
park and recreation agencies for excellence in the field
of recreation management.
For more about Florida State Parks, visit
www.FloridaStateParks.org. | 
