Parks

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Audubon Florida’s former executive director Eric Draper now director of Florida State Parks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein today announced three key appointments to DEP’s leadership team, as part of its continued focus on the protection of Florida’s prized properties through the management of Florida’s world-renowned state park system and land acquisition and conservation. Eric Draper will join the DEP team as the Director of Florida State Parks, effective Nov. 28, and Callie DeHaven will serve as Interim Director of the Division of State Lands effective Nov....

DEP announces opening of 175th State Park at Gilchrist Blue Springs

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service announced the opening of Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park in High Springs, Florida’s 175th state park. The property, which contains six natural springs and includes approximately one mile of frontage along the Santa Fe River, has been providing recreational opportunities as a private park since 1958. As a state park, Gilchrist Blue Springs will continue to offer numerous opportunities for resource-based recreation, including swimming, paddling and hiking....

Florida Panhandle State Parks temporarily close due to tropical storm Nate

  • October 6, 2017
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  • Parks

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service announces the closure of 18 state parks in Northwest Florida due to imminent weather conditions including strong winds and rain. The following state parks are closing today at 5 p.m. local time: Big Lagoon State Park (Escambia County Blackwater Heritage State Trail (Santa Rosa County) Blackwater River State Park (Santa Rosa County) Camp Helen State Park (Bay County) Constitution Convention Museum State Park (Gulf County) Deer Lake State Park (Walton County) Eden Gardens State Park (Walton County) Falling Waters...

Bay front park on the Choctawhatchee Bay inches closer to reality

With the recent purchase of close to 6.6 acres on the northwest end of the Clyde B. Wells (Hwy. 331) bridge corridor, Walton County is getting closer to creating a new park on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Known as bayfield or “bay fill” to some locals, the first parcel purchased by the County is 2.14 acres on the water. The additional parcels are adjacent to the north and are collectively 4.436 acres. The second purchase will be announced at the Walton...

Nature lovers celebrate 25 years of South Walton conservation land

As our community  grows, many residents and visitors continue to be in awe of the extraordinary amount of recreation land we have in South Walton county. However, some newcomers have no idea how we acquired such a vast and beautiful landscape enjoyed by many. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Point Washington State Forest almost didn’t happen. Thanks to the support from organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, an energetic group of advocates from 4-Mile Village, local conservation group Beach...

Day use entrance fees waived at Grayton Beach and Topsail Hill Preserve State Parks May 29 – Sept. 4

Walton County, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Grayton Beach State Park and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Recreation and Parks are teaming up to provide parking at no-charge for summer beach goers between May 29 to Sept. 4, 2017. Starting on May 29, regular day-use admission fees will be waived for public entrance to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park through a reimbursement program administered by Visit South Walton (VSW). The arrangement will...

Kids to Park Day in Niceville May 20

The Kids to Park Day, a family and community event for all ages, will be held Saturday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, located at 4281 Highway 20 East in Niceville FL 32578. The day will include five different hikes beginning on the hour all day long. Each hike will have a booth where you can sign up for the program. The hikes include a bug hunt, a butterfly hike, a...