Casey Darling Kniffin: Florida must act now to preserve our state parks

Our state experienced a wave of unity last summer. In August, Floridians made their voices heard, with a resounding consensus to keep state parks wild. Families, outdoor enthusiasts, small businesses, and elected officials came together and showed overwhelming support for preserving these cherished natural spaces. The call to defend our parks came from people of all walks of life, bound by a single, undeniable truth — they love our state parks.

As afternoon thunderstorms rolled in, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Sen. Gayle Harrell atop Hobe Mountain, the iconic scenic overlook at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Community members and reporters joined us to express our dedication to our parks. By early December, Harrell had already filed a bill demonstrating her commitment to codifying park protections into state law for her constituents.

The State Parks Preservation Act (SB 80/HB 209), sponsored by Harrell and Rep. John Snyder among scores of bipartisan co-sponsors, gives the people what they are asking for: keeping Florida’s parks in their current glory.

In fact, their current glory has earned Florida’s state parks four National Gold Medal awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management — the only state to achieve this distinction four times. This award recognizes not just the beauty of our parks but also the exceptional management, conservation efforts, and public service from park staff that make Florida’s park system a national model. Passing this bill would protect our parks and keep us on the path to a fifth Gold Medal.

Florida’s state parks are a treasured part of our natural heritage and an economic driver throughout the state. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, Florida’s state parks contributed over $3.6 billion in direct economic impact, with 28 million visitors lining up to experience our wild landscapes. From paddling the crystal-clear springs of Ichetucknee to picnicking under the expansive oaks of Myakka River to hiking the upland scrub of Jonathan Dickinson, these spaces provide an escape from the stresses of daily life and vast economic benefits to local communities.

Beyond places for recreation, state parks are vital habitats for wildlife and crucial to safeguarding our water quality. These pockets of conservation land maintain biodiversity and connect wildlife corridors, helping the survival of endangered species like the Florida panther and the four-petal pawpaw.

The Florida Legislature should pass the State Parks Preservation Act this session to honor the people’s wishes and ensure our parks remain wild for generations to come. This bill will ensure that our parks receive the funding and protection needed to remain accessible and free from harmful encroachments. Moving this bill forward is essential to maintaining what makes our state parks so special.

Now is the time to act. Legislators must listen to their constituents and stand up for what the people of Florida overwhelmingly support. Passing this bill isn’t just good conservation policy—it’s good governance.

The future of Florida’s nationally acclaimed state park system is in our hands. Let’s safeguard it for generations to come. We must urge lawmakers to act now and pass the State Parks Preservation Act. Wild Florida depends on it.

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Casey Darling Kniffin is the conservation policy director at the Florida Wildlife Federation.