Media Advisory: Oct. 13, 2017

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

Fort Zachary Taylor, John Pennekamp and
Curry Hammock State Parks Reopen

~Three state parks in Monroe County reopen for visitors to enjoy~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service announces that three additional state parks in the Keys have reopened following the impacts of Hurricane Irma. Amenities and access to certain areas of the parks may be limited as park staff continue clean-up efforts. 

The following parks have reopened for day-use:

• Curry Hammock State Park
• Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

The following state parks and trails in the Keys are also open for visitors to enjoy:

• Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

• The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail - due to conditions and construction, sections of the trail may be closed.
• Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park
• San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park

To ensure visitor safety, five state parks remain closed, but crews are working to reopen them as quickly as possible. For a full list of park closures and for continuously updated information, please visit floridastateparks.org and the Florida State Parks Facebook page.

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

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