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FLORIDA – To celebrate July as Recreation and Parks Month, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation & Parks is
encouraging family-friendly, outdoor recreation with the launch of its Family.
Friends. Fun. Campaign to reconnect children and families with nature. Since
1985, the National Recreation and Park Association has designated July as
Recreation and Parks Month. To celebrate this designation, Florida is waiving
admission to all state parks on July 13.
“Recreation and Parks Month is an excellent time for family and friends to
visit a state park and experience …the Real FloridaSM,” said DEP Secretary
Michael W. Sole, who himself started his career as a marine biologist working in
one of Florida’s state parks. “State parks provide a multitude of activities
that promote mental and physical well being.”
The Family. Friends. Fun. Campaign is hosting events in state parks that
appeal to individuals and families of all ages and interests this July during
Recreation and Parks Month. On Sunday, July 13, entry into all 161 state parks
will be free, providing an opportunity for everyone to head outdoors and
experience Florida State Parks.
The National Park Service and the National Association of State Park
Directors encourage the nation’s state park systems to endorse the national
initiative to connect children and nature, and influence the decline of
nature-deficit disorder. The ongoing movement to promote outdoor activity began
with Richard Louv’s book, The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from
Nature-Deficit Disorder which highlighted the benefits of outdoor recreation.
Studies show that young people between the ages eight and 18 average almost
seven hours per day playing indoors on computers, video games and watching
television, resulting in increased cases of obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder
and depression.
“Without the encouragement of parents and friends, children are less likely
to play outdoors and gain exposure to natural resources and nature-based
recreation,” said Florida State Parks Director Mike Bullock. “Establishing a
healthy relationship with nature during childhood is a valuable habit that will
benefit individuals and society as a whole for years.”
The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation’s best state park
service, Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in the country with
161 parks spanning almost 700,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach. From
swimming and diving in Florida’s rivers and springs to birding and fishing or
hiking and riding on natural scenic trails, Florida’s state parks offer
year-around outdoor activities for all ages. Battle re-enactments and Native
American festivals celebrate Florida’s unique history, while art shows, museums
and lighthouses offer a window into Florida’s cultural heritage. Florida’s state
parks are also home to the 2008 Best Beach in the nation, Caladesi Island State
Park, located off the coast of Southwest Florida in Pinellas County
For more information about Florida State Parks and activities scheduled for
July 13 and throughout Recreation and Parks Month, visit
www.FloridaStateParks.org. For
more information on the national initiative to connect children and nature,
visit
http://www.childrenandnature.org/. | 
