MORE THAN 60 FLORIDA STATE PARKS REOPEN FOLLOWING HURRICANE MATTHEW

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 10/08/2016 12:44 PM EDT
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Media Advisory: Oct. 8, 2016

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

MORE THAN 60 FLORIDA STATE PARKS REOPEN FOLLOWING HURRICANE MATTHEW

~More than 30 parks remain closed to ensure visitor safety~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – DEP’s Florida Park Service announces that more than 60 state parks have reopened within 24 hours following Hurricane Matthew. To ensure visitor safety, more than 30 parks remain closed.

The following state parks remain closed until further notice:

  • Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park (Volusia County)
  • Amelia Island State Park (Nassau County)
  • Anastasia State Park (St. Johns County)                 
  • Big Talbot Island State Park (Duval County)
  • Blue Spring State Park (Volusia County)
  • Bulow Creek State Park (Volusia County)
  • Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park (Flagler County)
  • De Leon Springs State Park (Volusia County)
  • Dunns Creek State Park (Putnam County)
  • Faver-Dykes State Park (St. Johns County)
  • Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park (Nassau County)
  • Fort Clinch State Park (Nassau County)
  • Fort George Island Cultural State Park (Duval County)
  • Fort Mose Historic State Park (St. Johns County)
  • Fort Pierce Inlet State Park (St. Lucie County)
  • Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach (Flagler County)
  • George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park (Nassau County)
  • Haw Creek Preserve State Park (Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties)
  • Hontoon Island State Park (Volusia and Lake counties)
  • Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park (Brevard County)
  • Little Talbot Island State Park (Duval County)
  • Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway East only (Putnam County)
  • Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park (Clay County)
  • North Peninsula State Park (Volusia County)
  • Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail (Bradford, Clay, Putnam and Union counties)
  • Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail (St. Johns County)
  • Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park (Duval County)
  • Ravine Gardens State Park (Putnam County)
  • Sebastian Inlet State Park (Brevard and Indian River counties)
  • Tomoka State Park (Volusia County)
  • Washington Oaks Gardens State Park (Flagler County)
  • Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park (Duval County)

    Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency.

    Visitor safety is paramount in the decision to close and open Florida state parks during times of severe weather. The Florida Park Service is in constant communication with state and local emergency operations centers and will keep parks closed as necessary to ensure visitor safety.

    Following severe weather events, the Florida Park Service works to reopen parks as quickly as possible to provide recreation for Florida's residents and visitors. Strike teams from parks unaffected by Hurricane Matthew have been sent to the areas hardest hit by the storm to assess damage and begin cleanup efforts. State parks will be opened as quickly as visitor safety can be assured. Parks that have reopened may have reduced amenities.

    Please visit floridastateparks.org and the Florida State Parks Facebook page for continuously updated information.

    The 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 – Nov. 30. For additional information about severe weather in Florida, and to Get A Plan, visit FloridaDisaster.org and FLGetAPlan.com. Follow the State Emergency Response Team on Twitter at @FLSERT and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.