In honor of Memorial Day, Governor Charlie Crist on Monday signed House Bill 1145 providing a 25 percent discount on annual passes to Florida State Parks for all veterans, active-duty service and reserve members. The new discounts coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida State Parks.
“The Florida Park Service is thankful for the dedicated service of the men and women who have served in our nation’s and state’s military,” said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock, a Marine Corps veteran. “We are proud that the Florida Park Service is able to honor our military and their families who give so much to protect our freedom and the American way of life.”
Effective July 1, 2010, honorably discharged veterans, active-duty service and reserve members will receive a 25 percent discount on the purchase of a Florida State Park annual pass. The discount provides a savings of $15 on an individual annual pass and $30 on a family annual pass, which allows up to eight people in a group to access most of Florida’s 160 state parks. In addition, honorably discharged veterans who have service connected disabilities, and surviving spouses of military veterans who have fallen in combat, will receive a lifetime family annual entrance pass at no charge.
“This is another superb initiative to honor our state’s 1.7 million veterans and their families,” said Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Executive Director LeRoy Collins Jr. “Florida’s state park system has a long tradition of recognizing the selfless service and sacrifice of America’s veterans to our nation.”
The discounted Florida State Parks Annual Entrance Pass is only available for purchase at any Florida State Park staffed ranger station. The free annual pass can only be obtained at a staffed ranger station.
Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, Florida’s state parks have grown from eight to 160 parks over the last 75 years, and are overseen by the DEP Florida Park Service. Today, the Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of Florida’s natural environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National Historic Landmarks and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida State Parks has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association as the nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the nation’s best park service.
For information on qualifications and necessary forms to receive these discounts, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org/thingstoknow
