Jump to content

List of Florida state parks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 parksand 9 state trails in theU.S. stateofFloridawhich 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 local501(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]

TheFlorida Park Serviceis the division of theFlorida Department of Environmental Protectionresponsible for the operation ofFlorida State Parks,and won the Gold Medal honoring the best state park system in the country in 1999 and 2005 from theNational 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 privatetourist attractionspurchased by the state of Florida to preserve their natural environment. These parks include theSilver Springs State Park,Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park,Rainbow Springs State Park,andWeeki Wachee Springs. There are state parks in 58 ofFlorida'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 containNational Natural Landmarks.[8]Additionally, there are elevennational parksand service sites in Florida locations[19]under control of theNational 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 corporationReserveAmerica.The Florida State Parks website (floridastateparks.org) provides an updated online guide to all parks.

Florida state parks and reserves[edit]

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.[21]
  • 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[21] Size[21] Year Established[21] Water Body(s)[21] Image Remarks
Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park Volusia 134.51acres (54.43 ha) 1939 Tomoka River Ruins of a 19th-century plantation owned by John Addison
Alafia River State Park Hillsborough 6,312acres (2,556 ha) 1996 Alafia River Former phosphorus strip mine unremediated[22]
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Leon 1,180acres
(478 ha)		 1954 Lake Hall Originally named Killearn Gardens State Park[23]
Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park Polk 8,065acres (3,266 ha) 1991 unnamed ponds Home to rare scrub habitat for wildlife
Amelia Island State Park Nassau 230acres
(93 ha)		 1983 Nassau Sound
Atlantic Ocean		 Horseback riding is permitted on the beach
Anastasia State Park St. Johns 1,600acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Hurricane DoraconnectedAnastasia Islandand Conch Island in 1964
Anclote Key Preserve State Park Pasco 403acres
(163 ha)		 1997 Gulf of Mexico Accessible only by ferry or boat[9]
Avalon State Park St. Lucie 650acres
(263 ha)		 1987 Atlantic Ocean Used forfrogmantraining duringWorld War II
Bahia Honda State Park Monroe 524acres
(212 ha)		 1961 Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mexico		 An island in the lowerFlorida Keys
Bald Point State Park Franklin 4,065acres (1,646 ha) 1999 Gulf of Mexico Amphibious landing exercises held duringWorld War II
The Barnacle Historic State Park Miami-Dade 5acres
(2 ha)		 1973 Biscayne Bay Oldest house inCoconut Grove;built in 1891[24]
Big Lagoon State Park Escambia 705acres
(285 ha)		 1977 Big Lagoon Start of theGreat Florida Birding Trail
Big Shoals State Park Hamilton 3,772acres
(1,528 ha)		 1989 Suwannee River LargestwhitewaterClass III rapidsin Florida
Big Talbot Island State Park Duval 1,600acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Part of Talbot Islands State Parks
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Miami-Dade 400acres
(162 ha)		 1967 Atlantic Ocean Home to theCape Florida LightonKey Biscayne
Blackwater River State Park Santa Rosa 590acres
(239 ha)		 1967 Blackwater River Home to 1982 Florida ChampionAtlantic white cedartree
Blue Spring State Park Volusia 2,600acres (1,053 ha) 1972 St. Johns River Largest spring on the St. Johns River and a designatedmanateerefuge
Bulow Creek State Park Volusia 5,600acres
(2,268 ha)		 1981 Bulow Creek 400-year-oldFairfield oakand 11 plantation sites
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park Flagler 150acres
(61 ha)		 1945 Bulow Creek Extensive stone ruins[25]
Caladesi Island State Park Pinellas 2,450acres
(992 ha)		 1966 Gulf of Mexico Ferry available, 108-slip marina[17]
Camp Helen State Park Bay 185acres
(75 ha)		 1996 Lake Powell
Gulf of Mexico		 Day use park formerly used as private resort
Cayo Costa State Park Lee 2,426acres
(983 ha)		 1976 Gulf of Mexico Accessible only by ferry or boat - primitive cabins[18]
Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve Levy 5,028acres
(2,036 ha)		 1978 Gulf of Mexico Very limited facilities
Cedar Key Museum State Park Levy 19acres
(8 ha)		 1960 Gulf of Mexico The St. Clair Whitman house depicts life in Cedar Key circa 1920
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park Charlotte 42,518acres
(17,220 ha)		 1978 Gasparilla Pass
Charlotte Harbor		 Very limited facilities
Collier-Seminole State Park Collier 6,430acres (2,604 ha) 1947 Gulf of Mexico National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the Bay City Walking Dredge used to build theTamiami Trailthrough theEverglades
Colt Creek State Park Polk 5,067acres (2,052 ha) 2007 several small lakes and creeks Part of theGreen Swamp Wilderness Preserve
Constitution Convention Museum State Park Gulf 13acres
(5 ha)		 1956 none, but nearSt. Joseph Bay Site where firstFlorida Constitutionwas drafted in 1838
Crystal River Archaeological State Park Citrus 61acres
(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 30,000acres (12,150 ha) 2004 Crystal River Rare spring-fed estuary
Curry Hammock State Park Monroe 1,000acres
(405 ha)		 1991 Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mexico		 Named for a Miami teacher whose family owned key land
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park Sumter 80acres
(32 ha)		 1921 none Second Seminole Warbattle where 105 of 108 troops were massacred by 180 Native Americans
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park Monroe 2,421acres
(981 ha)		 1982 Atlantic Ocean Park's name changed in 2001 to honor park activist
De Leon Springs State Park Volusia 600acres
(243 ha)		 1982 Crystal River "Old Methuselah" is a 500-year-oldbald 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 5acres
(2 ha)		 2003 none Site ofHernando de Soto1539 encampment andGov. John W. Martin House
Deer Lake State Park Walton 1,995acres
(808 ha)		 1996 Gulf of Mexico
Deer Lake		 Very rare freshwater lake among coastal dunes
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Collier 166acres
(67 ha)		 1981 Cocohatchee River
Gulf of Mexico		 Barrier islandwith white sugar sand beach
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park Alachua 67acres
(27 ha)		 1974 sinkhole pond 120-foot (36.6 m) deep, 500-foot (152.4 m) widesinkholeaccessed by 232 step stairway
Don Pedro Island State Park Charlotte 230acres
(93 ha)		 1985 Gulf of Mexico Barrier islandaccessible only by boat or ferry[14]
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Broward 310acres
(126 ha)		 1973 Atlantic Ocean Formerly known as John U Loyd State Park
Dudley Farm Historic State Park Alachua 325acres
(132 ha)		 1989 none Shows agricultural development in Florida from the 1850s through the mid-1940s
Dunns Creek State Park Putnam 6,000acres
(2,430 ha)		 2001 St. Johns River
Dunns Creek		 Steamboat stop during the 1920s
Econfina River State Park Taylor 4,543acres
(1,840 ha)		 1989 Econfina River Confederate deserters camped here and assisted Union blockcade ships during theCivil War
Eden Gardens State Park Walton 163acres
(66 ha)		 1968 Tucker Bayou Restoredplantation housewithLouis XVI stylefurniture
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park Wakulla 6,000acres
(2,430 ha)		 1968 Wakulla River One of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world
Egmont Key State Park Hillsborough 328acres
(133 ha)		 1974 Tampa Bay The ruins of Fort Dade andEgmont Key Lightare inside the park
Estero Bay Preserve State Park Lee 10,000acres (4,050 ha) 1974 Estero Bay The first aquaticnature preserveestablished in Florida
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Collier 75,000acres (30,375 ha) 1975 none Part of theBig Cypress National Preservein theEverglades
Falling Waters State Park Washington 171acres
(69 ha)		 1962 2-acre pond Contains a 73-foot (22.3 m)waterfall,tallest in Florida
Fanning Springs State Park Gilchrist 1,427acres
(578 ha)		 1997 Fanning Springs
Suwannee River		 A first magnitude spring purchased by the state in 1993
Faver-Dykes State Park St. Johns 6,045acres (2,448 ha) 1950 Pellicer Creek A wilderness area
Florida Caverns State Park Jackson 1,300acres
(527 ha)		 1942 Chipola River The only Florida state park with public cave tours
Forest Capital Museum State Park Taylor 14acres
(6 ha)		 1967 none Includes a late 1800sFlorida crackerhomestead
Fort Clinch State Park Nassau 1,427acres
(578 ha)		 1935 Amelia River Construction ofFort Clinchbegan in 1847
Fort Cooper State Park Citrus 710acres
(287 ha)		 1977 Lake Holathlikaha On theWithlacoochee State Trail
Fort Foster State Historic Site Hillsborough 30acres
(12 ha)		 1935 none Part ofHillsborough River State Park;replica fort built in 1972
Fort George Island Cultural State Park Duval 1,600acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Doraconnected Anastasia Island and Conch Island in 1964
Fort Mose Historic State Park St. Johns 24acres
(10 ha)		 2005 none National Historic Landmarkoriginally known as Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosé
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park St. Lucie 340acres
(138 ha)		 1973 Tucker Cove
Atlantic Ocean		 Used forfrogmantraining duringWorld War II
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Monroe 87acres
(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 357acres
(145 ha)		 1966 Rocky Bayou Named in honor ofUnited States Air ForceColonel who preserved site
Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail Alachua 16miles
(26 km)		 1989 Boulware Springs Passes throughPaynes Prairie
Gamble Plantation Historic State Park Manatee 87acres
(35 ha)		 1927 Manatee River Sole survivingantebellummansionin south Florida, once a 3,500-acre (1,416 ha)sugarcaneplantation
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach Flagler 144acres
(58 ha)		 1961 Atlantic Ocean Renamed from Flagler Beach State Recreation Area in 1992
Gasparilla Island State Park Charlotte
Lee		 128acres
(52 ha)		 1983 Charlotte Harbor Gasparilla Island Lightswere lit in 1890
George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier Duval 8,000ft
(2,440 m)		 1999 Nassau Sound
Atlantic Ocean		 Pedestrian-only fishing bridge
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park Gilchrist 407acres
(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 2,200acres
(891 ha)		 1968 Western Lake
Gulf of Mexico		 Popular pristine beach offers cabins & camping, boating, fishing and trails
Henderson Beach State Park Okaloosa 222acres
(90 ha)		 1983 Gulf of Mexico U.S. Air Force Clausen Tracking site until 1951
Highlands Hammock State Park Highlands 9,000acres
(3,640 ha)		 1931 none One of the highest ranking parks in Florida for endemic biodiversity
Hillsborough River State Park Hillsborough 3,383acres
(1,370 ha)		 1935 Hillsborough River Fort Fosteris inside the park
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Citrus 210acres
(85 ha)		 1984 Homosassa River Home to numerousmanatees
Honeymoon Island State Park Pinellas 2,785acres
(1,128 ha)		 1975 Gulf of Mexico Easily accessible by bridge fromDunedin
Hontoon Island State Park Volusia
Lake		 1,648acres
(667 ha)		 1960 St. Johns River
Hontoon Dead River		 Accessible only by ferry or boat[10]
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park Broward 180acres
(73 ha)		 1941 Atlantic Ocean Park is in the middle of urbanFort Lauderdale
Ichetucknee Springs State Park Columbia 2,241acres
(908 ha)		 1972 Ichetucknee River Drift tubingand certified cave diving
Indian Key Historic State Park Monroe 10acres
(4 ha)		 1972 Atlantic Ocean First county seat for Dade County; accessible only by boat[11]
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Palm Beach 325acres
(132 ha)		 1989 Lake Worth
Atlantic Ocean		 A gift fromJohn D. MacArthurto the people of Florida
John Gorrie Museum State Park Franklin 1acres
(0 ha)		 1958 none PhysicianJohn Gorriepatented the first mechanical refrigeration process (air conditioning)
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Monroe 53,000acres
(21,465 ha)		 1963 Atlantic Ocean Firstunderwater parkin the United States
Jonathan Dickinson State Park Martin 11,500acres
(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 54,000acres (21,870 ha) 1997 none The U.S. Army used the land to trainB-17 bombercrews duringWorld War II
Koreshan State Historic Site Lee 135acres
(55 ha)		 1983 Estero River Home of theKoreshan Unitygroup
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Lafayette 702acres
(284 ha)		 2005 Suwannee River First magnitude spring with 168 million gallons (636 million liters) per day
Lake Griffin State Park Lake 578acres
(234 ha)		 1968 Dead River
Oklawaha River		 Connects Oklawaha to Lake Griffin
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park Leon 100acres
(41 ha)		 1966 St. Marks River Fort Walton Culturecapital from 1050 to 1500
Lake June in Winter Scrub State Park Highlands 845acres
(342 ha)		 1995 Lake June in Winter Limited facilities; still under development
Lake Kissimmee State Park Polk 5,930acres (2,402 ha) 1977 Lake Kissimmee The 1876 Cow Camp is aliving historysite withCracker Cowboys
Lake Louisa State Park Lake 4,372acres (1,771 ha) 1974 Lake Louisa Park includes theGreen Swampand six lakes
Lake Manatee State Park Manatee 556acres
(225 ha)		 1970 Lake Manatee 60-site campground was opened in 1986
Lake Talquin State Park Leon
Gadsden		 526acres
(213 ha)		 1971 Lake Talquin Lake Talquin is a 10,000 acre (4,047 ha) reservoir created by the Jackson Bluff Dam on theOchlockonee River
Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park Jefferson 188acres
(76 ha)		 1998 Lake Miccosukee Site of the tallest prehistoric, Native American ceremonial earthwork mound in Florida
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Monroe 10,481acres
(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 2,433acres
(985 ha)		 1974 Little Manatee River Park includes equestrian trails and campsites
Little Talbot Island State Park Duval 1,600acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Part of Talbot Islands State Parks
Long Key State Park Monroe 965acres
(391 ha)		 1969 Atlantic Ocean Grand resort was destroyed by theLabor Day Hurricane of 1935
Lovers Key State Park Lee 712acres
(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		 17,405acres
(7,049 ha)		 1976 Wekiva River
St. Johns River		 Wildlife corridor to theOcala National Forest
Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site Manatee 10acres
(4 ha)		 1970 Tampa Bay Named for the owners who donated it to the state in 1948
Madison Blue Spring State Park Madison 1acres
(1 ha)		 2000 Withlacoochee River First magnitude spring
Manatee Springs State Park Levy 2,443acres
(989 ha)		 1949 Suwannee River First magnitude spring
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park Alachua 99acres
(40 ha)		 1970 none 1930s farm and citrus orchard
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park Clay 2,000acres
(810 ha)		 1935 Little Lake Johnson Hiking andEquestriantrails
Mound Key Archaeological State Park Lee 113acres
(46 ha)		 1970 Estero Bay Accessible only by boat - no facilities[13]
Myakka River State Park Sarasota
Manatee		 37,000acres
(14,985 ha)		 1941 Myakka River
Upper Myakka Lake		 Land partly donated byBertha Palmer,pioneer farmer, rancher & developer
Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park Leon 113acres
(46 ha)		 1949 St. Marks River Site of the second largestCivil Warbattle in Florida
North Peninsula State Park Volusia 534acres
(216 ha)		 1984 Atlantic Ocean Metal pieces from the wreck of theNorth Western,which sank prior to World War II, have emerged on the beach
Okeechobee Battlefield State Park Okeechobee 211acres
(85 ha)		 2007 Lake Okeechobee Battle site during theSecond Seminole War
O'Leno State Park Columbia 6,000acres
(2,430 ha)		 1940 Santa Fe River Many facilities built by theCivilian Conservation Corpsin the 1930s
Ochlockonee River State Park Wakulla 392acres
(159 ha)		 1970 Ochlockonee River
Dead River		 Many older trees show scars fromturpentineindustry
Oleta River State Park Miami-Dade 1,043acres
(422 ha)		 1986 Oleta River
Biscayne Bay		 Park has high numbers of theinvasive speciesCasuarina(Australian pine)
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Baker 43acres
(17 ha)		 1949 none First State Historic Monument in 1909
Orman House Historic State Park Franklin 1acres
(1 ha)		 2001 Apalachicola River House built in 1838
Oscar Scherer State Park Sarasota 1,400acres
(567 ha)		 1956 South Creek
Lake Osprey		 Major habitat of theFlorida Scrub Jay
Paynes Creek Historic State Park Hardee 410acres
(166 ha)		 1981 Paynes Creek Site of Fort Chokonikla and the Kennedy-Darling trading post during theSeminole Wars
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Alachua 21,000acres
(8,505 ha)		 1971 Lake Wauburg Savannaformerly occupied bySeminoleIndians
Perdido Key State Park Escambia 290acres
(117 ha)		 1978 Gulf of Mexico Abarrier island
Price's Scrub State Park Marion 962.28acres
(389.42 ha)		 2002 Sinkhole lakes Contains woodland, marsh, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and sinkhole lakes
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Holmes 420acres
(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 3,896acres
(1,578 ha)		 2003 Atlantic Ocean Part of Talbot Islands State Parks
Rainbow Springs State Park Marion 1,472acres
(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 59acres
(24 ha)		 1934 St. Johns River Gardens built byWorks Progress Administrationin 1933
River Rise Preserve State Park Columbia 4,500acres
(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 14,150acres
(5,731 ha)		 1983 Wekiva River Joins Wekiwa Spring run to create the Wekiva River
Royal Palm State Park Miami-Dade 4,000acres
(1,620 ha)		 1916 Everglades Became the nucleus ofEverglades National Parkin 1934
San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Alachua 7,360acres
(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 17acres
(7 ha)		 1964 Wakulla River
St. Marks River		 History of this national landmark dates to 1528
San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park Monroe 644acres
(261 ha)		 1989 Atlantic Ocean Dutch-built ship sank in a hurricane on July 13, 1733
Savannas Preserve State Park St. Lucie
Martin		 6,000acres
(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 7,360acres
(2,981 ha)		 1992 Indian Riverlagoon Four different natural habitats within short distance
Sebastian Inlet State Park Brevard
Indian River		 755acres
(306 ha)		 1970 Sebastian Inlet Park never closes; second most visited Florida park
Silver Springs State Park Marion 5,000acres
(2,025 ha)		 1987 Silver River The headspring area was the focal point ofSilver Springs Nature Theme Park,a now-defunct commercial attraction
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park Hillsborough
Manatee		 26,000ft
(10,530 m)		 1994 Tampa Bay Utilizes approaches to oldSunshine Skyway Bridge,following the 1980 collision byMV Summit Ventureand construction of a new bridge
St. Andrews State Park Bay 1,200acres
(486 ha)		 1950 Gulf of Mexico
Grand Lagoon		 Named "America's Best Beach" in 1995
St. George Island State Park Franklin 1,962acres
(795 ha)		 1963 Gulf of Mexico Named "6th Best Beach in America" for 2011 afterHurricane Dennisdestroyed the facilities in 2005
St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park Martin 928acres
(376 ha)		 1965 Atlantic Ocean Barrier islandaccessible only by boat[15]
St. Marks River Preserve State Park Leon 2,589acres
(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		 22,000acres
(8,910 ha)		 1995 St. Sebastian River TheHernández–Capron Trailwas built to link St. Augustine with Fort Pierce during theSecond Seminole War
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Hamilton 800acres
(324 ha)		 1950 Suwannee River Carillontower with 97 tubular bells plays Foster's songs every day
Stump Pass Beach State Park Charlotte 245acres
(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 1,800acres
(729 ha)		 1951 Suwannee River
Withlacoochee River		 The 1860 Columbus Cemetery, pieces from an 1800s sawmill, andCivil Warearthworks are points of interest
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park Gulf 1,900acres
(770 ha)		 1967 Gulf of Mexico Dedicated to the former owner, who sold it to the U.S. Army inWorld War II
Talbot Islands State Parks Duval 1949, 2003 Atlantic Ocean SeeBig Talbot Island State Park,Little Talbot Island State Park,andPumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park.
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park Escambia 4,290acres
(1,737 ha)		 1998 Perdido Bay Limited facilities; nature trails, picnic tables and a bathroom
Terra Ceia Preserve State Park Manatee 1,932acres
(783 ha)		 2000? Tampa Bay Land acquired by the state andSouthwest Florida Water Management District
Three Rivers State Park Jackson 686acres
(278 ha)		 1955 Chattahoochee River;Flint River
Lake Seminole		 The 1947Jim Woodruff Damcreated Lake Seminole; the outflow is theApalachicola River
Tomoka State Park Volusia 1,800acres
(729 ha)		 1945 Tomoka River Urban park completely surrounded by development
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Walton 1,643acres
(665 ha)		 1992 Gulf of Mexico Site of munitions testing range duringWorld War II
Torreya State Park Liberty 13,737acres
(5,563 ha)		 1935 Apalachicola River Park named after the endangeredTorreyatree
Troy Spring State Park Suwannee
Lafayette		 84acres
(34 ha)		 1995 Suwannee River First magnitude spring; theCivil Warsteamboat "Madison" was scuttled there in 1863
Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park Levy 30,784acres (12,468 ha) 2005 Gulf of Mexico Accessible only by boat; no recreational facilities[16]
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Flagler 21acres
(9 ha)		 1964 Atlantic Ocean Park hasformal gardens,citrus groves and house
Weeki Wachee Springs Hernando 538acres
(218 ha)		 2008 Weeki Wachee River The headspring area features underwater performances by female dancers inmermaidcostumes
Wekiwa Springs State Park Orange 7,723acres (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 3,400acres (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 733acres
(297 ha)		 1986 Suwannee River 28,000 feet (8,534 m) of explored passageways make it one of the largest locations forcave divingin the U.S.
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park Monroe 32acres
(13 ha)		 1986 Atlantic Ocean Quary providedKeystone (limestone)for theOverseas Railroadin 1908
Ybor City Museum State Park Hillsborough 1acre
(0 ha)		 1976 none Shows the history of Tampa's cigar industry and Latin influence
Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park Duval 1,600acres
(648 ha)		 1949 Atlantic Ocean Confederatecamp constructed during theAmerican Civil War
Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park Santa Rosa 11,000acres
(4,455 ha)		 2000 Yellow River One of Florida's last remaining tracts ofwet prairie;no recreation facilities
Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park Citrus 6acres
(2 ha)		 1953 Homosassa River SenatorDavid Levy Yuleebuilt the mill on his 5,100-acre (2,064 ha) plantation,Margarita,in 1851

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"About the Florida Park Service".Florida Department of Environmental Protection.RetrievedJuly 3,2012.
  2. ^abBray, Taryn (November 18, 2013)."Florida Parks Receive Record Number Of Gold Medals For Excellence".WUFT News.RetrievedNovember 21,2013.
  3. ^abc"About Florida State Parks and Trails".Florida State Parks.Archived fromthe originalon May 21, 2012.RetrievedMay 25,2012.
  4. ^"National Gold Medal Awards - State Park Award Winners & Finalists"(PDF).2011.National Recreation and Park Association.RetrievedMay 31,2012.
  5. ^Florida State Parks wins third gold medal in parks and recreation management,WTSP, October 10, 2013
  6. ^"2019 Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Announced | National Recreation and Park Association".nrpa.org.September 24, 2019.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
  7. ^"The Goddard Era".Florida Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived fromthe originalon May 2, 2013.RetrievedMay 19,2012.
  8. ^ab"National Natural Landmarks: Florida".National Park Service.RetrievedMay 19,2012.
  9. ^ab"Anclote Key Preserve State Park".State of Florida.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  10. ^ab"Hontoon Island State Park".State of Florida.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  11. ^ab"Indian Key Historic State Park".State of Florida. Archived fromthe originalon July 11, 2012.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  12. ^ab"Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Park".State of Florida. Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 2012.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  13. ^ab"Mound Key Archeological State Park".State of Florida. Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2012.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  14. ^ab"Don Pedro Island State Park".State of Florida.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  15. ^ab"St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park".State of Florida. Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 2012.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  16. ^ab"Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park".State of Florida.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  17. ^ab"Caladesi Island State Park".State of Florida.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  18. ^ab"Cayo Costa State Park".State of Florida.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
  19. ^"11 National Parks In Florida You Can Visit On Your Next Road Trip".Fort Lauderdale Daily.RetrievedAugust 8,2019.
  20. ^"Find a Park Florida".National Park Service.RetrievedJune 2,2012.
  21. ^abcde"Office of Park Planning - Park Management Plans".Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2012.RetrievedMay 31,2012.
  22. ^"Alafia River State Park".Florida State Parks. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2013.RetrievedJuly 17,2013.
  23. ^"Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park".Florida State Parks.RetrievedJuly 17,2013.
  24. ^"Activities at The Barnacle Historic State Park".Florida State Parks.RetrievedJuly 17,2013.
  25. ^"Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park".Florida State Parks.RetrievedJuly 17,2013.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toFlorida State Parks.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Florida_state_parks&oldid=1215532368"