HR 9021

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing the Division of Recreation and
3	Parks for its management of the state park system.
4
5	WHEREAS, the Division of Recreation and Parks of the
6	Department of Environmental Protection manages an expansive and
7	diverse state park system that comprises over 720,000 acres and
8	159 park properties, and
9	WHEREAS, Florida park rangers, managers, and support staff,
10	as dedicated interpreters and stewards of the most treasured
11	natural and cultural resources of "the Real Florida," are joined
12	by countless public and private partners that have helped
13	provide expanded resource-based recreational opportunities for
14	more than 17 million annual visitors to Florida's state parks,
15	and
16	WHEREAS, last year, the Friends of Florida State Parks and
17	78 citizen-support organizations assisted the Florida Park
18	Service, and more than 6,000 volunteers donated a record-
19	breaking 1 million hours of service, the equivalent of 505 full-
20	time employees, with a value of more than $18 million, and
21	WHEREAS, in addition to preserving 720,000 acres of
22	Florida's finest, most pristine natural areas for enjoyment by
23	this and future generations, the Division of Recreation and
24	Parks provides an annual direct economic impact of $665 million
25	and has created more than 13,000 jobs for the state's
26	communities, and
27	WHEREAS, at the recent National Recreation and Park
28	Association Annual Congress in San Antonio, Texas, the Division
29	of Recreation and Parks was awarded the prestigious 2005
30	National Gold Medal Award for excellence as manager of the
31	nation's best state park system, the first state park system to
32	receive this award twice, NOW, THEREFORE,
33
34	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
35	Florida:
36
37	That the House of Representatives proudly recognizes the
38	Division of Recreation and Parks for its outstanding
39	accomplishments and urges the Department of Environmental
40	Protection to publicize those accomplishments and Florida's
41	celebrated state parks throughout 2006.
42	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
43	presented to Collen M. Castille, Secretary of the Department of
44	Environmental Protection; Bob Ballard, Deputy Secretary of
45	Environmental Protection; and Mike Bullock, Director of the
46	Division of Recreation and Parks, as a tangible token of the
47	sentiments expressed herein.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.