FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2016
DEP OPENS RENOVATED VISITOR CENTER AT
PAYNES PRAIRIE PRESERVE STATE PARK
~Additional learning opportunities available for the public~
 (Left to right) Larry Davis, superintendent, Tumbleson White Construction; Mofa Hassoun,
construction inspector, Atkins North America, Inc.; Perran Ross, president, Friends of Paynes Prairie; Philip Madden, assistant bureau chief, DEP Bureau of Design and Construction;
Rep. Keith Perry;
Mary Reichardt, Public Relations and Marketing manager, VisitGainesville;
Donald Forgione, director, Florida Park Service; Michelle Sherfield, chief of staff, Rep.
Clovis Watson Jr.’s Office; David Jowers, park manager, Paynes Prairie
Preserve State Park.
MICANOPY, Fla. – The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service hosted a ribbon
cutting ceremony at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park to celebrate the
opening of the park’s renovated visitor center. Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione joined Rep. Keith Perry and other officials for the celebration.
“I am excited to open this renovated visitor center to the public,” said Donald Forgione, director of
the Florida Park Service. “I encourage all visitors to stop by and learn about the rich history of the park.”
“When we join together to
improve our community, good things happen,” said Rep. Keith Perry. “This
visitor center renovation is the direct result of strong partnerships.”
Renovations
to the visitor center include updates to the reception
area, auditorium and restrooms as well as the
addition of an exhibition area, which will have displays documenting the
park’s history early next year. Funding for this $746,987
project was provided by grants from the National Scenic Byways Program through
a Florida Department of
Transportation Local Agency Project; a grant from Visit Gainesville and contributions from
the Friends of Paynes Prairie, Inc.
For more information about Paynes Prairie Preserve State
Park, click here.
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