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TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP)
Florida Park Service was recognized yesterday with two awards from Volunteer
Florida’s Inclusion Council for engaging volunteers of all abilities in its
volunteer and AmeriCoprs programs.
“We are very grateful to be recognized by Volunteer Florida for inclusion
practices within the park service’s volunteer programs,” said Florida State
Parks Director Mike Bullock. “Working alongside park staff, volunteers play a
significant role in achieving the mission of the Florida Park Service and it is
important that people from all walks of life are included in the many volunteer
opportunities state parks offer.”
Volunteer Florida presented two awards to Florida State Parks:
- The first
award was given to the AmeriCorps program in recognition of exemplary efforts to
include persons with disabilities in national and volunteer service. The Florida
Park Service AmeriCorps program works to serve and strengthen Florida’s natural
and cultural resources by addressing critical environmental and human needs.
- The second award was presented to the Florida Park Service’s volunteer program
for its performance on the “Better Communities Include Everyone” survey. This
survey was distributed in April by Volunteer Florida to assess the practices of
volunteer organizations across the state. Organizations were surveyed on
outreach, recruitment, inclusion, engagement and retention of volunteers with
disabilities. Florida’s state parks scored the highest on all survey criteria
out of all the submissions received by Volunteer Florida.
“I congratulate Florida State Parks for their commitment to including persons
with disabilities in volunteer service activities,” said Volunteer Florida CEO
Wendy Spencer. “The environment is a priority for Governor Crist, and everyone
can contribute to preserving and restoring Florida’s natural treasures.”
Volunteers are crucial to achieving the mission of the Florida Park Service.
Last year alone, park volunteers contributed a record of almost 1.2 million
hours of work to the state valued at $22.5 million. This record represents an
increase of more than 121,000 hours from the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
More than 6,000 park volunteers also help maintain the natural beauty of
Florida's beaches, waterways and trails. Volunteers contribute in a variety of
ways participating as interpreters, educators, tour guides, greeters, landscape
artists, and wildlife and resource custodians. The work of Florida’s park
volunteers is equivalent to 555 full-time employment positions which is more
than half the size of the state park’s present workforce.
The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation’s best state park
service, Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in the country with
160 parks spanning almost 700,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach.
Florida’s state parks offer year-around outdoor activities for all ages
including: swimming and diving in Florida’s rivers and springs, bird watching,
fishing, hiking and walking on natural scenic trails.
Battle re-enactments and Native American festivals celebrate Florida’s unique
history, while art shows, museums and lighthouses offer a window into Florida’s
cultural heritage. Florida’s state parks are also home to the 2008 Best Beach in
the nation. Caladesi Island State Park, located off the coast of Southwest
Florida in Pinellas County, was honored with this coveted award.
For more information about Florida State Parks, visit
www.floridastateparks.org. | 
