Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) SR By Senator Rodriguez 40-02067-24 20241808__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Resolution A resolution recognizing January 31, 2024, as “Florida State Parks Day” in Florida. 3

WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks system encompasses 175 parks, trails, and historic sites spanning more than 813,000 acres, including miles of white sand beaches, and

WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks generated an estimated $3.6 billion in economic impact and $241 million in sales tax revenue while supporting more than 50,000 jobs during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, and

WHEREAS, the Florida Park Service is the only four-time winner of the National Recreation and Park Association’s Gold Medal for Excellence in the field of parks and recreation management, and

WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks have a legacy of nearly 90 years, having been created out of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, and

WHEREAS, Florida’s state parks provide world-class opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, camping, 20 swimming, paddling, fishing, horseback riding, and other activities, and

WHEREAS, annual passes to Florida’s state parks were recently made more affordable than ever for residents of this state through Governor Ron DeSantis’ Great Outdoors Initiative, 25 enacted as Executive Order 23-209, and

WHEREAS, during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, more than 80 citizen support organizations, such as the Florida State Parks Foundation, along with more than 5,100 volunteers, contributed Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) SR 1808 40-02067-24 20241808__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. more than one million volunteer hours to Florida’s state parks, 30 and

WHEREAS, beloved native wildlife, such as Florida panthers, 32 manatees, sea turtles, black bears, alligators, and many species of birds, find critical habitat in lands and waters managed by the Florida Park Service, and

WHEREAS, 75 of Florida’s state parks lie within the footprint of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, with many more located nearby,

NOW, THEREFORE, 38

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 40 That January 31, 2024, is recognized as “Florida State Parks Day” in Florida. 43