FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 10, 2013
CONTACT: Governor's Press Office, 850.717.9282, media@eog.myflorida.com
FLORIDA STATE PARKS SYSTEM WINS THIRD GOLD MEDAL IN PARKS AND RECREATION
~Florida becomes the only state to win gold three times~
TALLAHASSEE- Governor Rick Scott announced at
today’s Florida Cabinet meeting that Florida State Parks are now the nation’s
only three-time winner of the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence
in the management of state park systems.
Governor Scott
said, “I am thrilled that the Florida Park Service continues to celebrate
Florida. Winning this award for the third time continues to show that the
Sunshine State is working hard to ensure Florida families and tourists are able
to enjoy our natural treasures, and I want to thank all of our employees and
volunteers who helped make this possible.”
The award was
presented during the National Recreation
and Park Association’s
Annual Congress and Exposition in Houston. The Association, in partnership with
the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, presents the award to communities
that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management
and administrating a complex system of state parks. Governor Rick Scott
and the Florida Cabinet recognized the Florida Park Service on Thursday.
This achievement
makes Florida the only system in the nation to win a third Gold Medal award. In
fact, no other system has ever won two Gold Medal awards and systems are not
allowed to apply for the award within five years of receiving a Gold Medal.
Considerations for this award were based on the agency’s ability to address
needs of those it serves through collective energies of citizens, staff and
elected officials.
“The fact that the
Florida Park Service has won this prestigious national award three times, while
no other state has ever won twice shows the dedication of our employees and
volunteers to manage the resources that provide vast opportunities for
Floridians and visitors to enjoy our natural resources,” said DEP Secretary
Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “More than 25 million people visit these award-winning
state parks each year, and we are proud to continue to show how special Florida
is to all those who visit.”
Since 1935,
Florida’s Park Service have been working to provide recreational activities for
the community, while preserving, protecting, interpreting and restoring natural
resources in the area.
During the
2012-2013 fiscal year, parks experienced a record-breaking number of visitors. During
this time period, 25,575,794 people visited parks. This resulted in a
592,615 increase from the previous year. Increasing access to these state parks
has been one of Secretary Vinyard’s top priorities.
“I am honored that
Florida State Parks is the winner of our third National Gold Medal,” said
Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione. “Our staff members, citizen
support organizations, volunteers and concessionaires work hard every day to
welcome visitors to enjoy our natural and cultural resources."
For more
information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/awards
or www.aapra.org.
| 
