Florida Senate - 2026                            (NP)    SR 1214
       
       
        
       By Senator Brodeur
       
       
       
       
       
       10-01767A-26                                          20261214__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution designating February 4, 2026, as “Florida
    3         State Parks Day” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, Florida’s state park system manages and protects
    6  175 parks, trails, and historic sites that span over 815,000
    7  acres, including 100 miles of white sand beaches, and
    8         WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks generated an estimated $3.6
    9  billion in economic impact and $234 million in sales tax revenue
   10  while attracting more than 28 million visitors and supporting
   11  49,910 jobs in fiscal year 2024-2025, and
   12         WHEREAS, Florida’s state park system is the only four-time
   13  winner of the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Parks and
   14  Recreation Management and was one of three finalists for the
   15  gold medal in 2025, and
   16         WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks are known for outdoor
   17  recreation, including hiking, camping, swimming, paddling,
   18  fishing, horseback riding, and many other activities, and
   19         WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks inspire thousands of
   20  volunteers, as well as dedicated statewide citizen support
   21  organizations, such as the Florida State Parks Foundation, and
   22         WHEREAS, beloved native wildlife, including Florida
   23  panthers, manatees, sea turtles, black bears, alligators, and
   24  many species of birds, find critical habitat in lands and waters
   25  managed by Florida’s state park system, and
   26         WHEREAS, 75 of Florida’s 175 state parks lie within the
   27  footprint of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, with many more
   28  located nearby, and
   29         WHEREAS, the year 2025 marked 25 years of Florida Forever,
   30  the landmark conservation program that has protected more than 1
   31  million acres of land across this state for the benefit of
   32  people and nature, and
   33         WHEREAS, Florida Forever has helped to acquire or expand
   34  dozens of Florida’s state parks to increase opportunities for
   35  outdoor recreation as well as to preserve crucial habitat, NOW,
   36  THEREFORE,
   37  
   38  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   39  
   40         That February 4, 2026, is designated as “Florida State
   41  Parks Day” in Florida.