THE BILL ITSELF

SR 1214

Florida State Parks Day

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR 1214 By Senator Brodeur 10-01767A-26 20261214__

1 Senate Resolution

2 A resolution designating February 4, 2026, as “Florida

3 State Parks Day” in Florida.

5 WHEREAS, Florida’s state park system manages and protects

6 175 parks, trails, and historic sites that span over 815,000

7 acres, including 100 miles of white sand beaches, and

8 WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks generated an estimated $3.6

9 billion in economic impact and $234 million in sales tax revenue

10 while attracting more than 28 million visitors and supporting

11 49,910 jobs in fiscal year 2024-2025, and

12 WHEREAS, Florida’s state park system is the only four-time

13 winner of the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Parks and

14 Recreation Management and was one of three finalists for the

15 gold medal in 2025, and

16 WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks are known for outdoor

17 recreation, including hiking, camping, swimming, paddling,

18 fishing, horseback riding, and many other activities, and

19 WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks inspire thousands of

20 volunteers, as well as dedicated statewide citizen support

21 organizations, such as the Florida State Parks Foundation, and

22 WHEREAS, beloved native wildlife, including Florida

23 panthers, manatees, sea turtles, black bears, alligators, and

24 many species of birds, find critical habitat in lands and waters

25 managed by Florida’s state park system, and

26 WHEREAS, 75 of Florida’s 175 state parks lie within the

27 footprint of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, with many more

28 located nearby, and

29 WHEREAS, the year 2025 marked 25 years of Florida Forever,

30 the landmark conservation program that has protected more than 1

31 million acres of land across this state for the benefit of

32 people and nature, and

33 WHEREAS, Florida Forever has helped to acquire or expand

34 dozens of Florida’s state parks to increase opportunities for

35 outdoor recreation as well as to preserve crucial habitat, NOW,

36 THEREFORE,

38 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

40 That February 4, 2026, is designated as “Florida State

41 Parks Day” in Florida.