Media Advisory: Sept. 25, 2017

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

155 Florida State Parks Open Following Hurricane Irma

~19 state parks remain closed to ensure visitor safety~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service announces that 155 state parks, nearly 90 percent, are open following Hurricane Irma. To ensure visitor safety, 19 state parks remain closed.

The following state parks are closed until further notice:

• Bahia Honda State Park (Monroe County)
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (Dade County)
• Curry Hammock State Park (Monroe County)
• Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park (Monroe County)
• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (Collier County)
• Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (Monroe County)
• General James A. Van Fleet State Trail (Sumter, Lake and Polk counties)
• Highlands Hammock State Park (Highlands and Hardee counties)
• Hillsborough River State Park (Hillsborough County)
• Hontoon Island State Park (Volusia and Lake counties)
• Indian Key Historic State Park (Monroe County)
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Monroe County)
• Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park (Monroe County)
• Long Key State Park (Monroe County)
• Lovers Key State Park (Lee County)
• Oleta River State Park (Dade County)
• Paynes Creek Historic State Park (Hardee County)
• The Barnacle Historic State Park (Dade County)
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park (Monroe County)

All other Florida State Parks are open at this time for day use only.

Visitor safety is paramount in the decision to reopen Florida State Parks following times of severe weather. Additionally, Florida State Parks are in constant communication with state and local emergency operations centers and will reopen based on conditions and location.

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

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. Visit FloridaDisaster.org for updates and information about this storm.

The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 – Nov. 30. For additional information about severe weather in Florida, and to "Get a Plan," visit FLGetAPlan.com. For continuous updates and recovery tips, follow the State Emergency Response Team on Twitter at @FLSERT and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

About Florida State Parks, Greenways and Trails 

The Florida Park Service is the proud recipient of three National Gold Medals for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, making Florida America’s first three-time Gold Medal winner. The awards were received in 1999, 2005 and 2013 from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association.

Florida’s 174 state parks, trails and historic sites inspire residents and visitors with recreation opportunities and scenic beauty that help strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. With nearly 800,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 1,500 miles of multi-use trails, residents and visitors should plan to visit soon and often to enjoy Florida’s natural treasures. Download the Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app, available on iTunes and Android Market, to plan your trip and enhance your experience. For more information, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/1b93a28