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LAKELAND, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service joined Sen. Kelli Stargel, Rep. Colleen Burton, Friends of Colt Creek State Park and other local representatives for a groundbreaking ceremony, announcing the construction of new campground facilities at Colt Creek State Park.

The new campground will include 28 campsites and one bathhouse. Camping facilities include three accessible RV sites, four tent sites and two additional tent sites with mobility features. The $2 million project is expected to be completed in January 2018.

“The department is proud to partner with Polk County and the Friends of Colt Creek State Park to benefit Florida’s residents and visitors,” said Gary Clark, DEP deputy secretary for land and recreation. “This new campground will offer park visitors an opportunity to explore the Lakeland area and enjoy the natural treasures right here in Central Florida.”

“The Friends of Colt Creek State Park are excited to help make this campground available to the community,” said Paula Dockery, president of the Friends of Colt Creek State Park. “As we begin phase one of this project on the tenth anniversary of the park, it’s great to see so much enthusiasm for the park and campground with our partners today.”

“This project is a great example of the good things that can happen when we all join together to get something done for our community,” said Florida Sen. Kelli Stargel. “I can’t think of a better setting for people to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida than Colt Creek State Park.”

“The park enhances the quality of life of Polk County residents,” said Florida Rep. Colleen Burton. “I am very pleased to see this project and look forward to the expanded recreation opportunities for our local community as well as all visitors to Florida.”

“Colt Creek State Park is a hidden gem and a great place to experience the beauty of natural Florida," said Congressman Dennis Ross. "I am thrilled to see this new opportunity for our community.”

Colt Creek State Park encompasses 5,067 acres and offers more than 15 miles of beautiful, multi-use trails which provide hiking, biking and and equestrian opportunities. These trails meander through the pine flatwoods around cypress domes, bottomland forest and vast open pastures. Three tributaries flow through the park including Little Gator Creek, Gator Creek and the park's namesake Colt Creek.

That was the cheer heard from Florida Park Service staff when the latest tally came in showing they had broken the all-time record for invasive plant removal in a fiscal year.

And, they have every reason to be proud.  As breaking records and accomplishing never-before-completed amounts of work clearly demonstrates the success of their land management program. 

As, Parks Small, Chief of Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources with the Florida Park Service, explains, “It takes everyone knocking it out of the park for such an achievement to be possible.  We can successfully run a program that combines paid staff, volunteers, partners and the private sector into one workforce that gets the job done and benefits everyone and the resources.  Every acre of invasive plants brought into maintenance means an acre of land with lower future management costs.  Give us sufficient resources and we will accomplish great things.” 

The garden will be available for relaxing activities such as tai chi, meditation and yoga, and educational areas of the garden have been planned to support special events, educational programs and workshops.                             

APOPKA, Fla. – DEP's Florida Park Service is partnering with the Wekiva Wilderness Trust (WWT) to create an accessible serenity garden at Wekiwa Springs State Park to expand access and enhance the park experience for visitors with diverse abilities. This innovative project will transform a half-acre site within the park into an innovative garden oasis that creates unique opportunities for people of all abilities to relax, explore and interact with nature. The garden will create a dynamic, fully accessible environment featuring lush native plants, accessible winding paths, water elements, interactive exhibits, exercise areas and gathering spaces to facilitate educational programs and special events.

“The department is very excited about this project, which will provide groundbreaking opportunities for relaxation, contemplation and education,” said Gary Clark, DEP deputy secretary of land and recreation. “Thanks to our many partners, we will be able to create inclusive experiences at the park for all visitors, including people who use wheelchairs, people with autism and those with other chronic conditions.”

DEP is providing $50,000 in funding for the joint project, which is being managed by WWT – a nonprofit volunteer group that regularly partners with the park. Other project partners include Friends of Florida State Parks; the Seminole County Master Gardener Program with University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; occupational therapist and award-winning author Dr. Amy Wagenfeld; award-winning landscape architecture firm Dix. Hite + Partners; the engineering firm of Carnahan Proctor and Cross; and Sweetwater Oaks Gardening Club. 

“This is truly a pioneering effort in the advancement of equitable access to nature,” said Sarafaith Pekor, project manager. “Partnerships with healthcare organizations, occupational therapists and universities are going to ensure the project’s ability to open the park to many more people and enrich lives through outreach, education and research.”

“Expanding access and offering a unique way for people of all ages and diverse abilities to enjoy the park is something we are very excited about,” said Robert Brooks, manager of the Wekiva River Basin State Parks.

The project is currently in the design phase with work on paths, irrigation and other hardscape elements beginning soon. The total project cost is estimated to be $200,000-$250,000 and the garden is expected to be open within a year. Wekiwa Springs State Park will continue to provide a variety of recreational activities, including hiking and biking, as well as swimming in the iconic springs.

The mascot of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a much admired, graceful, elegant raptor that can be found throughout much of the state from early spring to early fall. During the winter months, all of the United States’ swallow-tailed kites can be found in Brazil. The kites begin to leave Brazil around the turn of the year and fly more than 3,000 miles to the south-eastern USA. The first kites are often reported from southern Florida in early February but the bulk of our state population doesn’t arrive until late-March/early-April.

Flying with consummate ease the kite plucks frogs, lizards, snakes, ants, dragonflies and even nestlings from the tops of trees; in Central America, kites have even been observed eating fruit! Kites prefer to eat their food on the wing. During the spring and summer it is not uncommon to see several pairs of kites building their nests in close proximity to each other.

Look for swallow-tailed kites over wetland habitats, along rivers, over agricultural fields (particularly in late summer) and pine forest. Large congregations of kites gather in select areas around Florida in late July and August before they embark on their long journey south to Brazil.

The Avian Research and Conservation Institute has been studying swallow-tailed kites since 1988. Their research has revealed many important and fascinating aspects of kite ecology. To learn more visit the ARCI website.

To learn more about where you can see swallow-tailed kites in Florida visit the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail website.

- article taken from the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail's monthly newsletter “Kite Tails"

Read the article here.

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a network of 510 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail. It’s Your Road to Adventure!

With no less than 84 Florida State Parks on the GFBWT there are plenty of opportunities to view Florida’s flora and fauna and have the creature comforts and amenities many of us need and want.  With few exceptions, all Florida State Parks have the basic niceties such as parking and restrooms.  And many have added features kayak rental, tour boats, swimming, maintained trails, and museums to help us understand the nature we are seeing.

Click here for a list of Florida State Parks on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

KEY WEST, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service joined Naval Air Station Key West, the city of Key West and other local representatives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new entrance to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. The new entrance includes a new access route for pedestrians and vehicles leading into the park, a new ranger station and a new ticket booth for pedestrians and bicyclists. Other improvements that were part of the $1.7 million project include a new road, sidewalks, bike lanes, the installation of a new entry gate, an ornamental security fence and new lighting.

"I'm excited to open this new entrance that will improve access and convenience at Florida's southernmost state park," said Florida State Parks Assistant Director Matt Mitchell. "Many thanks to all of our partners on this project including NAS Key West and the city of Key West, as well as our staff and volunteers who made this project a reality."

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973, Florida’s southernmost state park is popular for recreation, as well as U.S. military history. The fort was one of a series built in the mid-1800s to defend the nation’s southeastern coastline. Completed in 1866, Fort Zachary Taylor played important roles in the Civil War and Spanish-American War. Key West’s favorite beach, located at the southern end of the park, provides opportunities for picnicking, swimming, snorkeling and fishing.

(the above image is of Matt Mitchell, Florida State Parks assistant Directors; Captain Bobby Baker, commander, NAS Key West, Erin Muir, assistant to Representative Holly Rashchein; Jim Scholl, Key West City manager; and John Mael, Florida State Parks District 5 bureau chief.)

Florida State Parks could not maintain the high level of service to Florida’s citizens and visitors without the work of volunteers. There are approximately 85 CSOs each devoted to supporting a specific state park or sometimes a group of parks located in the same vicinity. Each year the Florida Park Service nominates CSOs who have especially gone above and beyond and a committee of the Friends of Florida State Parks pick the winner. Friends of Camp Helen State Park is the deserving winner for 2016.

Recently, Yellow Buses in the Parks funding was able to cover the bus transportation costs so that an entire 4^th grade class was able to participate in the Junior Ranger Program at Lake Talquin State Park located in the Tallahassee area of Florida.

The Florida State Parks Junior Ranger Program provides the opportunity for young people to learn, serve and share our parks' natural and cultural resources.  After completing six core activities the Junior Ranger Pledge is recited and each child receives a Certificate, Member ID Card and the Official Junior Ranger PASSPORT.

The Junior Ranger Pledge

"As a Junior Ranger, I promise to protect the plants, animals, water, geological
features, culture and history of Florida State Parks. I promise to continue to learn
about parks and share what I have learned with others.”

Families with children are welcome to participate at any state park that offers the program.  Learn more about the Junior Ranger program and find out which parks participate here.

And help us get many more kids to Florida State Parks so they may benefit from all the great programs held there.  Busy family lives mean kids may not get to parks as they might like to.  Field trips during the school year ensures more kids will get to the parks.  Teachers are heartedly enthusiastic about bringing their classes to the parks but often the school districts lack the funds to get them there.  With your help Yellow Buses in the Parks can continue to fund field trip transportation costs.  To make your donation go to our website here and specify Yellow Buses.

The Florida Park Service would not be the three-time Gold Medal organization that it is today without the vital support of our volunteers. Last year more than 29,000 volunteers contributed over 1.2 million hours of service. Florida's state parks are fortunate to have so many passionate and dedicated volunteers.

The Volunteer Awards celebrate exceptional individuals, teams and CSOs which choose to serve the Florida Park Service with their time and talent. The winners are selected in nine categories by the Friend of Florida State Parks Recognition Committee, from nominations made by the parks.

Lois Rose – Winner of Adult Female Volunteer of 2016 

Silver Springs State Park in Ocala has been fortunate to receive nearly 700 hours of expert software engineering skills and expertise from volunteer, Lois Rose, to digitize and preserve the park's cultural and historical resources. The digitization of these resources provides copies to be used for interpretive materials.

Sally Lieb, Park Manager says, "One of many challenges faced with the acquisition of the Springs area was and continues to be the accession and handling of historic documents, photographs, memorabilia, films, records and so on.  Thanks to the digitizing work of Lois and her team these multitudes of items are readily available for use by all park service personnel and others while the originals are still being preserved in proper storage.”

Thank you for your service, Lois!

Rodger Chambers – Winner of Adult Male Volunteer of 2016

For eight years Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area & North Peninsula State Park has been the lucky recipient of Rodger’s time, skill and expertise.  In 2016 Rodger contributed more than 850 hours as a volunteer adding up to 10,255 lifetime hours given to the Florida Park Service.

Space doesn’t allow for a full list of Rodger’s accomplishments but here are a few - He has built five substantial interpretive kiosks for the park’s trails and butterfly garden. He’s made many improvements to the riverside camping area including reworking the water faucets at tent sites so they are easier to use, installing site designation posts, installing all new signage, installing t-posts for campers to hang items and more.  He works alongside the park staff as a member of the team and brings an invaluable skill set to the park that saves thousands of dollars annually.  

Thank you for your service, Rodger!

In FY 2016, state parks had an economic impact of over $2.8 billion on local economies throughout Florida. $191,604,535 was contributed to the state’s general revenues in the form of state sales taxes. More than 45,525 jobs were created in local economies as a result of state park operations. In many rural counties throughout the state, the state park is one of the most important attractions drawing visitors to the county and supporting small businesses that depend on tourism for survival.

 

To see the facts on your favorite park, click here!