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TALLAHASSEE – In honor of state-owned lands and
parks, Florida will be celebrating National Public Lands
Day on September 30 with events statewide. As a national
leader in land conservation, Florida is recognizing National
Public Lands Day across 159 state parks, thousands of miles
of trails and millions of acres of conservation land.
“Florida continues to be a national leader in land conservation,”
said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen
M. Castille. “With more than 11 million acres of state lands
and 159 state parks, we are committed to preserving Florida’s
natural habitats, providing a recreational haven for the
public and a sanctuary for wildlife.”
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on
volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands
Americans enjoy. In 2005, nearly 8,000 volunteers across
the nation helped with various activities, including planting
trees and plants, building boardwalks and removing trash.
Events are taking place at state parks and trails statewide,
including:
Alafia River State Park
14326 South County Road 39
Lithia, Florida
Craig Liney, (813) 672-5320
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cleanup will consist of maintenance and trash removal
along equestrian trails throughout the park. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
3540 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, Florida
Cristine Brache, (850) 487-4115
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in an exotic plant removal
along the Lake Hall nature trail. Long pants, closed-toe
shoes, insect repellent, gloves, sunscreen and water
are recommended. Bahia Honda State Park
36850 Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, Florida
Monay Markey, (305) 872-9807
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will help park staff install native plants
and construct fences along the campground’s waterfront
sites. Barnacle Historic State Park
3485 Main Highway
Coconut Grove, Florida
Ali Richardson, (305) 442-6866
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with exotic plant removal and
coastal cleanup along the park’s shoreline. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
1200 S. Crandon Boulevard
Key Biscayne, Florida
Art Levy, (305) 361-8779, Ext. 144
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with tree planting and beach
cleanup projects. Blue Spring State Park
2100 W. French Avenue
Orange City, Florida
Erik Peterson, (386) 775-3663
8:30 a.m.
The park will host a canoe and kayak race. Volunteers
will transport vessels, supply food to participants,
coordinate safety and teach canoe paddling workshops.
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
12301 Burnt Store Road
Punta Gorda, Florida
John As, (941) 575-5861
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Participants will clean up hurricane debris near the
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center. Collier-Seminole State Park & Fakahatchee Strand
Preserve State Park
137 Coastline Drive
Copeland, Florida
Dennis Giardina, (239) 695-4593
9:00 a.m.
Park staff will lead volunteers down one of the tram
trails for an exotic plant removal and land restoration
project. Crystal River Preserve State Park
3266 N. Sailboat Avenue
Crystal River, Florida
Vicky Mendenhall, (352) 563-0450
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Volunteers will help mulch the trail, spread sand, build
a wooden platform classroom, landscape with native plants,
rim landscaped areas with rock and construct and install
benches, picnic tables, fencing and entrance gate.
De Leon Springs State Park
601 Ponce De Leon Boulevard
De Leon Springs, Florida
Donna Collins, (386) 985-4212
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will help park staff remove invasive exotic
plants. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
11100 Gulfshore Drive North
Naples, Florida
Robert Steiger, (239) 566-7423
8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Meet at north end parking lot pavilion.
Participants will help with exotic plant removal at
the park. Falling Waters State Park
1130 State Park Road
Chipley, Florida
Ronnie Hudson, (850) 638-6130
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will help remove invasive plant species throughout
the park. Florida Caverns State Park
3345 Caverns Road
Marianna, Florida
Charles Smith, (850) 482-1228
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with restoring the park’s fish
hatchery area. Fort Clinch State Park
2601 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Kadie Ogden, (904) 277-7274
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join park staff in trail maintenance, restoration and
resource management activities. Fort Mose Historic State Park
10 Saratoga Boulevard
St. Augustine, Florida
Stephen F. Carter, (904) 461-2033
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Volunteers will help remove litter and debris along
the marsh edge surrounding the park. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, Avalon State Park
and Jack Island Preserve
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
905 Shorewinds Drive
Fort Pierce, Florida
Meban Cory-Ogden, (772)468-3985
9:00 am – 11:00am
Resource management activities will take place at all
three parks after first meeting at Fort Pierce Inlet.
Volunteers will participate in trail maintenance, beach
cleanup and boardwalk maintenance. Grayton Beach State Park
357 Main Park Road
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Patrick Hartsfield, (850) 231-4210
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers and staff will pick up debris and litter
along the beach. Henderson Beach State Park
17000 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, Florida
Dallas Cox, (850) 259-6444
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Participants will clean up debris along the 1.25 miles
of beach at the park. Highlands Hammock State Park
5931 Hammock Road
Sebring, Florida
Jeanne Parks, (863) 386-6094
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet at park Ranger Station.
Cleanup will consist of removing of exotic plants from
forest areas. Hillsborough River State Park 5402 U.S. 301
Thonotosassa, Florida
Patrick Potts, (813) 987-6771
9:00 a.m.
Volunteers will participate in debris removal at the
park. Honeymoon and Caladesi Island State Parks
#1 Causeway Boulevard
Dunedin, FL
Karen LeBlanc, (727) 469-8942
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in a debris cleanup and
invasive plant removal. Ichetucknee Springs State Park
12087 S.W. U.S. Highway 27
Fort White, Florida
Kara Ford, (386) 497-4690
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with a water lettuce cleanup
and construction of a native plant and butterfly garden.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
U.S. 1, Mile Marker 102.5
Key Largo, Florida
Elena Muratori, (305) 451-1202
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in a beach and mangrove
cleanup. John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania, Florida
Carmelo Duesler, (954) 923-2833 by September 20, 2006
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in a sea oat planting project
as well as beach and park cleanups. Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 SE Federal Highway
Hobe Sound, Florida
Martin Morse, (772) 546-2771
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Join Club Scrub, the park’s off-road bicycling association,
in trail maintenance projects throughout the park.
Lake Griffin State Park
3089 U.S. 441-27
Fruitland Park, Florida
Victor Zuclich, (352) 360-6760
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Volunteers will help remove exotic plants from the park.
Lake Louisa State Park
7305 U.S. Highway 27
Clermont, Florida
Brian Sheets, (352) 394-3969
9:00 am. – 12:00 pm.
Volunteers will participate in a beach cleanup. Lake Talquin State Park
14850 Jack Vause Landing Road
Tallahassee, Florida
Tom Nobles, (850) 922-6007
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
With the assistance of the Boy Scouts of America, volunteers
will help with trail maintenance and install signs and
interpretive labels on the new park trail system.
Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection's Office of
Greenways and Trails
8282 SE Highway 314
Ocala, Florida
Valerie Naylor, (352) 236-7143
8:00 a.m.
Volunteers will participate in a trail work party.
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
6239 State Road 21
Keystone Heights, Florida
Terrance Craig, (352) 473-4701
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with exotic plant removal, wire
grass planting and park cleanup. Myakka River State Park
13208 State Road 72
Sarasota, Florida
Diane Dutcher, (941) 361-6515
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with exotic species removal in
the park. Oleta River State Park
3400 N.E. 163rd Street
North Miami, Florida
Laura Kruger, (305) 919-1846
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with exotic species removal,
a planting project and trail maintenance. Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, Florida
John Roche, (941) 483-5956
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Volunteers will participate in habitat improvement,
trail maintenance and exotic species removal. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
100 Savannah Boulevard
Gainesville, Florida
JulieAnne Tabone, (352) 258-9156
9:00 a.m.
Volunteers will help remove trash from Paynes Prairie
Preserve's vast wetland. Big Lagoon State Park and Perdido Key State Park
12301 Gulf Beach Highway
Pensacola, Florida
Ken Jenkins, (850) 492-1595
8:00 a.m.
Meet at Perdido Key State Park.
Participants will remove trash and hurricane debris
from the north side of the park along the Old River.
San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park
Day use parking area on Millhopper Road
Gainesville, Florida
Jason Ahern, (352) 955-2135
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will remove coral ardisia, an invasive plant
at the park. Savannas Preserve State Park
2541 Walton Road
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Tony Uhl, (772) 398-2779
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in a marsh cleanup. St. George Island State Park
1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive
St. George Island, Florida
Melody Sapp, (850) 927-2111
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Participants will clean up approximately 9 miles of
state park beach by picking up litter and storm debris
from last year's hurricanes. Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
Meet at Bishop Harbor boat launch
Bishop Harbor Road, 0.5 miles west of U.S. 41 and Moccasin
Wallow Road intersection. Bishop Harbor, Florida
Larry Busby, (941) 721-2068
October 7, 2006
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in a coastal cleanup.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
8899 Cape San Blas Road
Port Saint Joe, Florida
Carl Marchand, (850) 227-1322
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Volunteers will be combing approximately 7.5 miles of
state park beach picking up litter and storm debris
from last year's hurricanes. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Leda Suydan, (850) 267-0299
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will help pick up trash and debris from the
beach and nature trail. Tomoka State Park
2099 North Beach Street
Ormond Beach, Florida
Joe Isaacs, (386) 676-4045
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with a litter pickup along nature
trails, park roadways and the shorelines of Tomoka River
and Halifax River. Torreya State Park
2576 N.W. Torreya Park Road
Bristol, Florida
Steven Cutshaw, (850) 643-2674
9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Volunteers will participate in trash and debris removal.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
550 Wakulla Park Drive
Wakulla Springs, Florida
Darby Reppart, (850) 224-5950
9:00 a.m.
Volunteers will help remove debris from Gremlin Sinkhole,
a debris mound and exotic vegetation locations. Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, Florida
Jessica King, (407) 884-2006
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Girl Scouts and college students will pick up debris
at the park main-use area and trails. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
0 Cinema Drive at Scenic Drive
Port Richey, Florida
Toby Brewer, (727) 816-1890
9:00 a.m.
Volunteers will be clearing and preparing three small
trails and a main area in preparation for the Halloween
in the Woods event.
The 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program established
by Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature in 1999 conserves
environmentally sensitive land, restores waterways and preserves
important cultural and historical resources. With more than
2 million acres of land conserved through Florida Forever
and its predecessor, Preservation 2000, the state is increasing
public access to recreation lands, connecting communities
with green space and expanding natural corridors to safeguard
wildlife.
For more information on Florida Forever, visit www.FloridaForever.org.
For more information on National Public Lands Day, please
visit www.PublicLandsDay.org.
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“With more than 11 million acres of state lands and 159 state parks, we are committed to preserving Florida’s natural habitats, providing a recreational haven for the public and a sanctuary for wildlife.”
~ Colleen M. Castille
DEP Secretary
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