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List of Florida state parks

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map of Florida with counties outlined; red dots indicate location of state parks

Map of State Parks of Florida
Hold cursor over locations to display park name,
click to go to park article.

There are 175[1] state parks and 9 state trails in the U.S. state of Florida which encompass more than 800,000 acres (320,000 ha),[2] providing recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists.

Almost half of the state parks have an associated local 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, often styled, "Friends of {park name} State Park, Inc.".[3] In 2015, some 29,356 volunteers donated nearly 1.3 million hours to enhance the parks for approximately 31 million visitors. There is a mostly nominal admission to nearly all Florida's state parks, although separate fees are charged for the use of cabins, marinas, campsites, etc. Florida's state parks offer 3,613 family campsites, 186 cabins, thousands of picnic tables, 100 miles (160 km) of beaches, and over 2,600 miles (4,200 km) of trails.[3]

The Florida Park Service is the division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection responsible for the operation of Florida State Parks, and won the Gold Medal honoring the best state park system in the country in 1999 and 2005 from the National Recreation and Park Association. They were also finalists in the 1997 and 2011 competitions.[4] The Park Service was awarded the gold medal again in October 2013, making it the only three-time winner.[2][5] In 2019, they received the gold medal award again, resulting in them being the first four-time winner.[6] The parks are open year-round and offer diverse activities beyond fishing, hiking and camping. Many parks offer facilities for birding or horseback riding; there are several battle reenactments; and freshwater springs and beaches are Florida's gems. According to the Florida Park Service website, their goal "is to help create a sense of place by showing park visitors the best of Florida's diverse natural and cultural sites. Florida's state parks are managed and preserved for enjoyment by this and future generations through providing appropriate resource-based recreational opportunities, interpretation and education that help visitors connect to the Real Florida."[3]

Several state parks were formerly private tourist attractions purchased by the state of Florida to preserve their natural environment. These parks include the Silver Springs State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, and Weeki Wachee Springs. There are state parks in 58 of Florida's 67 counties.[7] Nine of the 175 parks do not have "State Park" in their name. Four are "conservation areas" (reserve, preserve, or wildlife refuge); three are "Historical/Archaeological sites"; one is a fishing pier and one is a recreation area.[8] Seven parks are mostly undeveloped with few or no facilities; 10 parks are accessible only by private boat or ferry;[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and 13 parks contain National Natural Landmarks.[8] Additionally, there are eleven national parks and service sites in Florida locations[19] under control of the National Park Service.[20]

Florida State Parks are supported by tax dollars (document stamps), user fees, and to a much smaller extent charitable contributions. Many state parks have an associated local non-profit corporation. Most parks charge an entrance fee. Residents can purchase an annual entrance pass that is valid at any of the parks. Camping is available in campsites in some of the parks. All reservations for park facilities are handled through the private corporation ReserveAmerica. The Florida State Parks website (floridastateparks.org) provides an updated online guide to all parks.

Development plans by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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On 19 August 2024 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced plans[21] to build golf courses and 350-room lodges on state park lands.[22]

In statements to the Tampa Bay Times and in posts to social media, the agency claimed that the construction of a golf course on vulnerable scrub habitat will be done in a way to "minimize habitat impacts". A spokesperson for Governor Ron DeSantis, Jeremy Redfern, defended the plans, saying "it's high time we made public lands more accessible to the public." DeSantis, an enthusiastic golfer, controls the Department of Environmental Protection, and has increased his influence over the agency in comparison to former governors. In an unprecedented move that critics said violated state law, he unilaterally appointed its secretary without approval by other members of the Florida Cabinet.[22]

The Tampa Bay Times also reported that US Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) joined local officials in criticizing the governor and the accelerated process driving state plans to develop golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The park, on the Atlantic coast of Florida, contains the largest area of protected scrub jay habitat in southeast Florida.[23]

An unusual bipartisan showing of elected officials in the state Legislature, Cabinet and the US Congress expressed opposition to the plans, which include the construction of disc golf courses, pickleball courts, and cabins. Three of the affected parks are in the Panhandle district in Panama City represented by state senator Jay Trumbull (R). He wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that he remains in "strong opposition" and exhorted other lawmakers in the legislature to follow suit. Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, who has lobbied in the state legislature to increase conservation land, said: "Our vision did not contemplate the addition of golf courses and hotels, which in my view are not in-line with the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature. From what I know at this time, the proposal should not move forward in its current form." Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, said that he had learned from media reports about the state park development plan, and that he has "serious concerns". He issued a statement saying, "(We) have to be really careful when we talk about building infrastructure on state parks. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should."[22]

Environmental groups and former park officials agreed that the agency was trying to limit the public comment-gathering process. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Eric Draper, who served as the director of Florida's state parks between 2017 and 2021, stated that it appeared that the agency sidestepped the legal process. The Times also noted that Albert Gregory, the former state chief of park planning, said the state was "hop-scotching some important steps".[23]

Florida state parks and reserves

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Note: The table of contents only applies when the list is sorted by park name.

  • "Year" refers to the year the park was opened. If that date is not available, the year the state acquired the property will be used.[24]
  • Left mouse click on the up/down arrows to sort the list by that column. Photo and remarks are unsortable.
Park Name County or Counties[24] Size[24] Year Established[24] Water Body(s)[24] Image Remarks
Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park Volusia 134.51 acres (54.43 ha) 1939 Tomoka River Ruins of a 19th-century plantation owned by John Addison
Alafia River State Park Hillsborough 6,312 acres (2,556 ha) 1996 Alafia River Former phosphorus strip mine unremediated[25]
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Leon 1,180 acres
(478 ha)		 1954 Lake Hall Originally named Killearn Gardens State Park[26]
Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park Polk 8,065 acres (3,266 ha) 1991 unnamed ponds Home to rare scrub habitat for wildlife
Amelia Island State Park Nassau 230 acres
(93 ha)		 1983 Nassau Sound
Atlantic Ocean		 Horseback riding is permitted on the beach
Anastasia State Park St. Johns 1,600 acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Dora connected Anastasia Island and Conch Island in 1964
Anclote Key Preserve State Park Pasco 403 acres
(163 ha)		 1997 Gulf of Mexico Accessible only by ferry or boat[9]
Avalon State Park St. Lucie 650 acres
(263 ha)		 1987 Atlantic Ocean Used for frogman training during World War II
Bahia Honda State Park Monroe 524 acres
(212 ha)		 1961 Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mexico		 An island in the lower Florida Keys
Bald Point State Park Franklin 4,065 acres (1,646 ha) 1999 Gulf of Mexico Amphibious landing exercises held during World War II
The Barnacle Historic State Park Miami-Dade 5 acres
(2 ha)		 1973 Biscayne Bay Oldest house in Coconut Grove; built in 1891[27]
Big Lagoon State Park Escambia 705 acres
(285 ha)		 1977 Big Lagoon Start of the Great Florida Birding Trail
Big Shoals State Park Hamilton 3,772 acres
(1,528 ha)		 1989 Suwannee River Largest whitewater Class III rapids in Florida
Big Talbot Island State Park Duval 1,600 acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Part of Talbot Islands State Parks
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Miami-Dade 400 acres
(162 ha)		 1967 Atlantic Ocean Home to the Cape Florida Light on Key Biscayne
Blackwater River State Park Santa Rosa 590 acres
(239 ha)		 1967 Blackwater River Home to 1982 Florida Champion Atlantic white cedar tree
Blue Spring State Park Volusia 2,600 acres (1,053 ha) 1972 St. Johns River Largest spring on the St. Johns River and a designated manatee refuge
Bulow Creek State Park Volusia 5,600 acres
(2,268 ha)		 1981 Bulow Creek 400-year-old Fairfield oak and 11 plantation sites
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park Flagler 150 acres
(61 ha)		 1945 Bulow Creek Extensive stone ruins[28]
Caladesi Island State Park Pinellas 2,450 acres
(992 ha)		 1966 Gulf of Mexico Ferry available, 108-slip marina[17]
Camp Helen State Park Bay 185 acres
(75 ha)		 1996 Lake Powell
Gulf of Mexico		 Day use park formerly used as private resort
Cayo Costa State Park Lee 2,426 acres
(983 ha)		 1976 Gulf of Mexico Accessible only by ferry or boat - primitive cabins[18]
Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve Levy 5,028 acres
(2,036 ha)		 1978 Gulf of Mexico Very limited facilities
Cedar Key Museum State Park Levy 19 acres
(8 ha)		 1960 Gulf of Mexico The St. Clair Whitman house depicts life in Cedar Key circa 1920
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park Charlotte 42,518 acres
(17,220 ha)		 1978 Gasparilla Pass
Charlotte Harbor		 Very limited facilities
Collier-Seminole State Park Collier 6,430 acres (2,604 ha) 1947 Gulf of Mexico National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the Bay City Walking Dredge used to build the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades
Colt Creek State Park Polk 5,067 acres (2,052 ha) 2007 several small lakes and creeks Part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve
Constitution Convention Museum State Park Gulf 13 acres
(5 ha)		 1956 none, but near St. Joseph Bay Site where first Florida Constitution was drafted in 1838
Crystal River Archaeological State Park Citrus 61 acres
(25 ha)		 1965 Crystal River National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest continuously occupied pre-Columbian sites in Florida
Crystal River Preserve State Park Citrus 30,000 acres (12,150 ha) 2004 Crystal River Rare spring-fed estuary
Curry Hammock State Park Monroe 1,000 acres
(405 ha)		 1991 Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mexico		 Named for a Miami teacher whose family owned key land
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park Sumter 80 acres
(32 ha)		 1921 none Second Seminole War battle where 105 of 108 troops were massacred by 180 Native Americans
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park Monroe 2,421 acres
(981 ha)		 1982 Atlantic Ocean Park's name changed in 2001 to honor park activist
De Leon Springs State Park Volusia 600 acres
(243 ha)		 1982 Crystal River "Old Methuselah" is a 500-year-old bald cypress; previously a private park with Jungle Cruise; 19 million gallons (72 million liters) of 72 °F (22 °C) water daily
DeSoto Site Historic State Park Leon 5 acres
(2 ha)		 2003 none Site of Hernando de Soto 1539 encampment and Gov. John W. Martin House
Deer Lake State Park Walton 1,995 acres
(808 ha)		 1996 Gulf of Mexico
Deer Lake		 Very rare freshwater lake among coastal dunes
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Collier 166 acres
(67 ha)		 1981 Cocohatchee River
Gulf of Mexico		 Barrier island with white sugar sand beach
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park Alachua 67 acres
(27 ha)		 1974 sinkhole pond 120-foot (36.6 m) deep, 500-foot (152.4 m) wide sinkhole accessed by 232 step stairway
Don Pedro Island State Park Charlotte 230 acres
(93 ha)		 1985 Gulf of Mexico Barrier island accessible only by boat or ferry[14]
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Broward 310 acres
(126 ha)		 1973 Atlantic Ocean Formerly known as John U Loyd State Park
Dudley Farm Historic State Park Alachua 325 acres
(132 ha)		 1989 none Shows agricultural development in Florida from the 1850s through the mid-1940s
Dunns Creek State Park Putnam 6,000 acres
(2,430 ha)		 2001 St. Johns River
Dunns Creek		 Steamboat stop during the 1920s
Econfina River State Park Taylor 4,543 acres
(1,840 ha)		 1989 Econfina River Confederate deserters camped here and assisted Union blockcade ships during the Civil War
Eden Gardens State Park Walton 163 acres
(66 ha)		 1968 Tucker Bayou Restored plantation house with Louis XVI style furniture
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Wakulla 6,000 acres
(2,430 ha)		 1968 Wakulla River One of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world
Egmont Key State Park Hillsborough 328 acres
(133 ha)		 1974 Tampa Bay The ruins of Fort Dade and Egmont Key Light are inside the park
Estero Bay Preserve State Park Lee 10,000 acres (4,050 ha) 1974 Estero Bay The first aquatic nature preserve established in Florida
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Collier 75,000 acres (30,375 ha) 1975 none Part of the Big Cypress National Preserve in the Everglades
Falling Waters State Park Washington 171 acres
(69 ha)		 1962 2-acre pond Contains a 73-foot (22.3 m) waterfall, tallest in Florida
Fanning Springs State Park Gilchrist 1,427 acres
(578 ha)		 1997 Fanning Springs
Suwannee River		 A first magnitude spring purchased by the state in 1993
Faver-Dykes State Park St. Johns 6,045 acres (2,448 ha) 1950 Pellicer Creek A wilderness area
Florida Caverns State Park Jackson 1,300 acres
(527 ha)		 1942 Chipola River The only Florida state park with public cave tours
Forest Capital Museum State Park Taylor 14 acres
(6 ha)		 1967 none Includes a late 1800s Florida cracker homestead
Fort Clinch State Park Nassau 1,427 acres
(578 ha)		 1935 Amelia River Construction of Fort Clinch began in 1847
Fort Cooper State Park Citrus 710 acres
(287 ha)		 1977 Lake Holathlikaha On the Withlacoochee State Trail
Fort Foster State Historic Site Hillsborough 30 acres
(12 ha)		 1935 none Part of Hillsborough River State Park; replica fort built in 1972
Fort George Island Cultural State Park Duval 1,600 acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Dora connected Anastasia Island and Conch Island in 1964
Fort Mose Historic State Park St. Johns 24 acres
(10 ha)		 2005 none National Historic Landmark originally known as Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosé
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park St. Lucie 340 acres
(138 ha)		 1973 Tucker Cove
Atlantic Ocean		 Used for frogman training during World War II
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Monroe 87 acres
(35 ha)		 1974 Straits of Florida Pre-civil war fort abandoned, restoration began in the late 1960s by volunteers
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park Okaloosa 357 acres
(145 ha)		 1966 Rocky Bayou Named in honor of United States Air Force Colonel who preserved site
Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail Alachua 16 miles
(26 km)		 1989 Boulware Springs Passes through Paynes Prairie
Gamble Plantation Historic State Park Manatee 87 acres
(35 ha)		 1927 Manatee River Sole surviving antebellum mansion in south Florida, once a 3,500-acre (1,416 ha) sugarcane plantation
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach Flagler 144 acres
(58 ha)		 1961 Atlantic Ocean Renamed from Flagler Beach State Recreation Area in 1992
Gasparilla Island State Park Charlotte
Lee		 128 acres
(52 ha)		 1983 Charlotte Harbor Gasparilla Island Lights were lit in 1890
George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier Duval 8,000 ft
(2,440 m)		 1999 Nassau Sound
Atlantic Ocean		 Pedestrian-only fishing bridge
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park Gilchrist 407 acres
(165 ha)		 2017 Santa Fe River Several springs in the park, including a second magnitude spring with 44 million gallons (167 million liters) per day.
Grayton Beach State Park Walton 2,200 acres
(891 ha)		 1968 Western Lake
Gulf of Mexico		 Popular pristine beach offers cabins & camping, boating, fishing and trails
Henderson Beach State Park Okaloosa 222 acres
(90 ha)		 1983 Gulf of Mexico U.S. Air Force Clausen Tracking site until 1951
Highlands Hammock State Park Highlands 9,000 acres
(3,640 ha)		 1931 none One of the highest ranking parks in Florida for endemic biodiversity
Hillsborough River State Park Hillsborough 3,383 acres
(1,370 ha)		 1935 Hillsborough River Fort Foster is inside the park
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Citrus 210 acres
(85 ha)		 1984 Homosassa River Home to numerous manatees
Honeymoon Island State Park Pinellas 2,785 acres
(1,128 ha)		 1975 Gulf of Mexico Easily accessible by bridge from Dunedin
Hontoon Island State Park Volusia
Lake		 1,648 acres
(667 ha)		 1960 St. Johns River
Hontoon Dead River		 Accessible only by ferry or boat[10]
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park Broward 180 acres
(73 ha)		 1941 Atlantic Ocean Park is in the middle of urban Fort Lauderdale
Ichetucknee Springs State Park Columbia 2,241 acres
(908 ha)		 1972 Ichetucknee River Drift tubing and certified cave diving
Indian Key Historic State Park Monroe 10 acres
(4 ha)		 1972 Atlantic Ocean First county seat for Dade County; accessible only by boat[11]
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Palm Beach 325 acres
(132 ha)		 1989 Lake Worth
Atlantic Ocean		 A gift from John D. MacArthur to the people of Florida
John Gorrie Museum State Park Franklin 1 acres
(0 ha)		 1958 none Physician John Gorrie patented the first mechanical refrigeration process (air conditioning)
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Monroe 53,000 acres
(21,465 ha)		 1963 Atlantic Ocean First underwater park in the United States
Jonathan Dickinson State Park Martin 11,500 acres
(4,658 ha)		 1950 Loxahatchee River Formerly a top-secret radar training school during WWII; now hosts the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education & Research Center
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Okeechobee 54,000 acres (21,870 ha) 1997 none The U.S. Army used the land to train B-17 bomber crews during World War II
Koreshan State Historic Site Lee 135 acres
(55 ha)		 1983 Estero River Home of the Koreshan Unity group
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Lafayette 702 acres
(284 ha)		 2005 Suwannee River First magnitude spring with 168 million gallons (636 million liters) per day
Lake Griffin State Park Lake 578 acres
(234 ha)		 1968 Dead River
Oklawaha River		 Connects Oklawaha to Lake Griffin
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park Leon 100 acres
(41 ha)		 1966 St. Marks River Fort Walton Culture capital from 1050 to 1500
Lake June in Winter Scrub State Park Highlands 845 acres
(342 ha)		 1995 Lake June in Winter Limited facilities; still under development
Lake Kissimmee State Park Polk 5,930 acres (2,402 ha) 1977 Lake Kissimmee The 1876 Cow Camp is a living history site with Cracker Cowboys
Lake Louisa State Park Lake 4,372 acres (1,771 ha) 1974 Lake Louisa Park includes the Green Swamp and six lakes
Lake Manatee State Park Manatee 556 acres
(225 ha)		 1970 Lake Manatee 60-site campground was opened in 1986
Lake Talquin State Park Leon
Gadsden		 526 acres
(213 ha)		 1971 Lake Talquin Lake Talquin is a 10,000 acre (4,047 ha) reservoir created by the Jackson Bluff Dam on the Ochlockonee River
Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park Jefferson 188 acres
(76 ha)		 1998 Lake Miccosukee Site of the tallest prehistoric, Native American ceremonial earthwork mound in Florida
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Monroe 10,481 acres
(4,245 ha)		 1971 Florida Bay
Gulf of Mexico		 Access via private boat or tour boat; daily visitors are limited[12]
Little Manatee River State Park Hillsborough 2,433 acres
(985 ha)		 1974 Little Manatee River Park includes equestrian trails and campsites
Little Talbot Island State Park Duval 1,600 acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Part of Talbot Islands State Parks
Long Key State Park Monroe 965 acres
(391 ha)		 1969 Atlantic Ocean Grand resort was destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
Lovers Key State Park Lee 712 acres
(288 ha)		 1983 Gulf of Mexico Lovers Key State Park merged with Carl Johnson County Park in 1996
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Lake
Seminole		 17,405 acres
(7,049 ha)		 1976 Wekiva River
St. Johns River		 Wildlife corridor to the Ocala National Forest
Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site Manatee 10 acres
(4 ha)		 1970 Tampa Bay Named for the owners who donated it to the state in 1948
Madison Blue Spring State Park Madison 1 acres
(1 ha)		 2000 Withlacoochee River First magnitude spring
Manatee Springs State Park Levy 2,443 acres
(989 ha)		 1949 Suwannee River First magnitude spring
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park Alachua 99 acres
(40 ha)		 1970 none 1930s farm and citrus orchard
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Clay 2,000 acres
(810 ha)		 1935 Little Lake Johnson Hiking and Equestrian trails
Mound Key Archaeological State Park Lee 113 acres
(46 ha)		 1970 Estero Bay Accessible only by boat - no facilities[13]
Myakka River State Park Sarasota
Manatee		 37,000 acres
(14,985 ha)		 1941 Myakka River
Upper Myakka Lake		 Land partly donated by Bertha Palmer, pioneer farmer, rancher & developer
Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park Leon 113 acres
(46 ha)		 1949 St. Marks River Site of the second largest Civil War battle in Florida
North Peninsula State Park Volusia 534 acres
(216 ha)		 1984 Atlantic Ocean Metal pieces from the wreck of the North Western, which sank prior to World War II, have emerged on the beach
Okeechobee Battlefield State Park Okeechobee 211 acres
(85 ha)		 2007 Lake Okeechobee Battle site during the Second Seminole War
O'Leno State Park Columbia 6,000 acres
(2,430 ha)		 1940 Santa Fe River Many facilities built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s
Ochlockonee River State Park Wakulla 392 acres
(159 ha)		 1970 Ochlockonee River
Dead River		 Many older trees show scars from turpentine industry
Oleta River State Park Miami-Dade 1,043 acres
(422 ha)		 1986 Oleta River
Biscayne Bay		 Park has high numbers of the invasive species Casuarina (Australian pine)
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Baker 43 acres
(17 ha)		 1949 none First State Historic Monument in 1909
Orman House Historic State Park Franklin 1 acres
(1 ha)		 2001 Apalachicola River House built in 1838
Oscar Scherer State Park Sarasota 1,400 acres
(567 ha)		 1956 South Creek
Lake Osprey		 Major habitat of the Florida Scrub Jay
Paynes Creek Historic State Park Hardee 410 acres
(166 ha)		 1981 Paynes Creek Site of Fort Chokonikla and the Kennedy-Darling trading post during the Seminole Wars
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Alachua 21,000 acres
(8,505 ha)		 1971 Lake Wauburg Savanna formerly occupied by Seminole Indians
Perdido Key State Park Escambia 290 acres
(117 ha)		 1978 Gulf of Mexico A barrier island
Price's Scrub State Park Marion 962.28 acres
(389.42 ha)		 2002 Sinkhole lakes Contains woodland, marsh, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and sinkhole lakes
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Holmes 420 acres
(170 ha)		 1970 Mill Creek
Sandy Creek		 14 million gallons (53 million liters) of 68 °F (20 °C) water outflow daily
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park Duval 3,896 acres
(1,578 ha)		 2003 Atlantic Ocean Part of Talbot Islands State Parks
Rainbow Springs State Park Marion 1,472 acres
(596 ha)		 1990 Rainbow River 600 million gallons (2.3 billion liters) of 68 °F (20 °C) water outflow daily
Ravine Gardens State Park Putnam 59 acres
(24 ha)		 1934 St. Johns River Gardens built by Works Progress Administration in 1933
River Rise Preserve State Park Columbia 4,500 acres
(1,823 ha)		 1974 Santa Fe River Location where Santa Fe River reemerges after 3 miles (4.8 km) underground
Rock Springs Run State Reserve Lake 14,150 acres
(5,731 ha)		 1983 Wekiva River Joins Wekiwa Spring run to create the Wekiva River
Royal Palm State Park Miami-Dade 4,000 acres
(1,620 ha)		 1916 Everglades Became the nucleus of Everglades National Park in 1934
San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Alachua 7,360 acres
(2,981 ha)		 1974 small water bodies A mature Florida forest and wildlife habitat with hiking, biking, and horse trails
San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park Wakulla 17 acres
(7 ha)		 1964 Wakulla River
St. Marks River		 History of this national landmark dates to 1528
San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park Monroe 644 acres
(261 ha)		 1989 Atlantic Ocean Dutch-built ship sank in a hurricane on July 13, 1733
Savannas Preserve State Park St. Lucie
Martin		 6,000 acres
(2,430 ha)		 1977 Indian River Area around Jensen Beach was known as the "Pineapple Capital of the World" from 1895 to 1920
Seabranch Preserve State Park Martin 7,360 acres
(2,981 ha)		 1992 Indian River lagoon Four different natural habitats within short distance
Sebastian Inlet State Park Brevard
Indian River		 755 acres
(306 ha)		 1970 Sebastian Inlet Park never closes; second most visited Florida park
Silver Springs State Park Marion 5,000 acres
(2,025 ha)		 1987 Silver River The headspring area was the focal point of Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, a now-defunct commercial attraction
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park Hillsborough
Manatee		 26,000 ft
(10,530 m)		 1994 Tampa Bay Utilizes approaches to old Sunshine Skyway Bridge, following the 1980 collision by MV Summit Venture and construction of a new bridge
St. Andrews State Park Bay 1,200 acres
(486 ha)		 1950 Gulf of Mexico
Grand Lagoon		 Named "America's Best Beach" in 1995
St. George Island State Park Franklin 1,962 acres
(795 ha)		 1963 Gulf of Mexico Named "6th Best Beach in America" for 2011 after Hurricane Dennis destroyed the facilities in 2005
St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park Martin 928 acres
(376 ha)		 1965 Atlantic Ocean Barrier island accessible only by boat[15]
St. Marks River Preserve State Park Leon 2,589 acres
(1,049 ha)		 2007 St. Marks River The St. Marks River flows from the wetlands east of Tallahassee to the Gulf of Mexico
St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park Brevard
Indian River		 22,000 acres
(8,910 ha)		 1995 St. Sebastian River The Hernández–Capron Trail was built to link St. Augustine with Fort Pierce during the Second Seminole War
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Hamilton 800 acres
(324 ha)		 1950 Suwannee River Carillon tower with 97 tubular bells plays Foster's songs every day
Stump Pass Beach State Park Charlotte 245 acres
(99 ha)		 1971 Gulf of Mexico Day park consisting of three islands offer swimming and boating, shelling and hiking, fishing and diving
Suwannee River State Park Suwannee 1,800 acres
(729 ha)		 1951 Suwannee River
Withlacoochee River		 The 1860 Columbus Cemetery, pieces from an 1800s sawmill, and Civil War earthworks are points of interest
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Gulf 1,900 acres
(770 ha)		 1967 Gulf of Mexico Dedicated to the former owner, who sold it to the U.S. Army in World War II
Talbot Islands State Parks Duval 1949, 2003 Atlantic Ocean See Big Talbot Island State Park, Little Talbot Island State Park, and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park.
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park Escambia 4,290 acres
(1,737 ha)		 1998 Perdido Bay Limited facilities; nature trails, picnic tables and a bathroom
Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Manatee 1,932 acres
(783 ha)		 2000? Tampa Bay Land acquired by the state and Southwest Florida Water Management District
Three Rivers State Park Jackson 686 acres
(278 ha)		 1955 Chattahoochee River; Flint River
Lake Seminole		 The 1947 Jim Woodruff Dam created Lake Seminole; the outflow is the Apalachicola River
Tomoka State Park Volusia 1,800 acres
(729 ha)		 1945 Tomoka River Urban park completely surrounded by development
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Walton 1,643 acres
(665 ha)		 1992 Gulf of Mexico Site of munitions testing range during World War II
Torreya State Park Liberty 13,737 acres
(5,563 ha)		 1935 Apalachicola River Park named after the endangered Torreya tree
Troy Spring State Park Suwannee
Lafayette		 84 acres
(34 ha)		 1995 Suwannee River First magnitude spring; the Civil War steamboat "Madison" was scuttled there in 1863
Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park Levy 30,784 acres (12,468 ha) 2005 Gulf of Mexico Accessible only by boat; no recreational facilities[16]
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Flagler 21 acres
(9 ha)		 1964 Atlantic Ocean Park has formal gardens, citrus groves and house
Weeki Wachee Springs Hernando 538 acres
(218 ha)		 2008 Weeki Wachee River The headspring area features underwater performances by female dancers in mermaid costumes
Wekiwa Springs State Park Orange 7,723 acres (3,128 ha) 1969 Wekiva River 42 million gallons (159 million liters) of 72 °F (22 °C) water outflow daily
Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park Pasco 3,400 acres (1,377 ha) 2001 Gulf of Mexico Named for the Werner-Boyce Preserve purchased by Pasco County in 1994; undeveloped
Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park Suwannee 733 acres
(297 ha)		 1986 Suwannee River 28,000 feet (8,534 m) of explored passageways make it one of the largest locations for cave diving in the U.S.
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park Monroe 32 acres
(13 ha)		 1986 Atlantic Ocean Quary provided Keystone (limestone) for the Overseas Railroad in 1908
Ybor City Museum State Park Hillsborough 1 acre
(0 ha)		 1976 none Shows the history of Tampa's cigar industry and Latin influence
Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park Duval 1,600 acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Confederate camp constructed during the American Civil War
Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park Santa Rosa 11,000 acres
(4,455 ha)		 2000 Yellow River One of Florida's last remaining tracts of wet prairie; no recreation facilities
Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park Citrus 6 acres
(2 ha)		 1953 Homosassa River Senator David Levy Yulee built the mill on his 5,100-acre (2,064 ha) plantation, Margarita, in 1851

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About the Florida Park Service". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Bray, Taryn (November 18, 2013). "Florida Parks Receive Record Number Of Gold Medals For Excellence". WUFT News. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "About Florida State Parks and Trails". Florida State Parks. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  4. ^ "National Gold Medal Awards - State Park Award Winners & Finalists" (PDF). 2011. National Recreation and Park Association. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  5. ^ Florida State Parks wins third gold medal in parks and recreation management, WTSP.com, October 10, 2013
  6. ^ "2019 Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Announced | National Recreation and Park Association". www.nrpa.org. September 24, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  7. ^ "The Goddard Era". Florida Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "National Natural Landmarks: Florida". National Park Service. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Anclote Key Preserve State Park". State of Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Hontoon Island State Park". State of Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Indian Key Historic State Park". State of Florida. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Park". State of Florida. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Mound Key Archeological State Park". State of Florida. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Don Pedro Island State Park". State of Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  15. ^ a b "St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park". State of Florida. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park". State of Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Caladesi Island State Park". State of Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Cayo Costa State Park". State of Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  19. ^ "11 National Parks In Florida You Can Visit On Your Next Road Trip". Fort Lauderdale Daily. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  20. ^ "Find a Park Florida". National Park Service. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  21. ^ "DEP Announces 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. August 19, 2024. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c Chesnes, Max; Mahoney, Emily L. (August 22, 2024). "Political opposition grows to Florida plan for golf courses in state parks". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Chesnes, Max; Mahoney, Emily L. (August 23, 2024). "Florida agency postpones meetings about state park plans, citing 'overwhelming interest'". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Office of Park Planning - Park Management Plans". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  25. ^ "Alafia River State Park". Florida State Parks. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  26. ^ "Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park". Florida State Parks. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  27. ^ "Activities at The Barnacle Historic State Park". Florida State Parks. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  28. ^ "Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park". Florida State Parks. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
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