Environmental leaders band together to urge funding for state parks

Florida’s top environmental groups are encouraging the Legislature to fully fund state parks this year.

A total of 32 organizations signed onto a letter to Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez, just as legislative leaders made clear that budget talks will head into overtime.

“Florida’s beloved state parks are critical infrastructure supporting the state’s tourism economy, drinking water, storm protection, wildlife, and public health, and yet the current budget proposals fail to adequately meet the urgent repair needs within our state parks,” the letter reads.

“Florida’s state parks for years ranked among the best in the nation and are essential economic engines for surrounding communities. But the system now faces a substantial maintenance backlog. Deferred maintenance does not save money — it multiplies costs. Repairs become replacements, facilities close, visitor experiences decline, and local tourism economies suffer.”

The groups suggested the current House and Senate budgets shorted the needs of state parks.

“At the current $25 million proposed in the House and Senate budgets, it would take 30 years to accomplish the total amount of repairs recommended in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report ($759 million) that was released last year,” the letter states.

“At $50 million in the Governor’s budget, it would take 15 years to accomplish that total amount of repairs. Our state parks deserve better.”

The Sierra Club sent the letter to press, and Sierra Club Florida Chapter Director Susannah Randolph was among those signing.

Several Audubon Society leaders in Florida also had their names on the letter, including Southeast Volusia Audubon Society’s Marsha Cox; South Florida Audubon Society Chief Operating Officer Doug Young; Tropical Audubon Society Executive Director Lauren Jonaitis; and West Volusia Audubon Society Vice President and Conservation Chair Stephen Kintner.

Several other statewide organizations were part of the effort as well.

Signers included: Surfrider Foundation Florida Policy Manager Katie Bauman; IDEAS For Us Chief Operations Officer Caroline Chomanics; The Downriver Project Director Gil Damon; Sea Turtle Conservancy Policy Coordinator Stacey Gallagher; Earth Ethics environmental scientist Mary Gutierrez; Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park President Julie Harrington; Florida Native Plant Society President Gene Kelly; VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart; Hold The Line Coalition Policy Director Josh Sproat; Environmental Matters Contracting and Consulting President and CEO Pauline Irene Stacey; Florida Native Plant Society President Karen Walter; and Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy Executive Director Karen Woodall.

Signatories also included regional group leaders, including: Kissimmee Waterkeeper John Capece; RURL Residents United for Rural Levy Executive Director Laura Catlow; Florida Keys Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America President Michael F. Chenoweth; Friends of Biscayne Bay Executive Coordinator Valeria Donets; Wakulla Springs Alliance Chair Chad Hanson; League of Women Voters of Citrus County 1st President Vicky Iozzia; Friends of Oleta River State Park Vice President Nina Jackson; Conservancy of Southwest Florida Environmental Policy Director Nicole Johnson; Florida Native Plant Society Palm Beach County Chapter President Rebekah Kaufman; Halifax River Audubon Co-conservation Chair Melissa Lammers; Our Santa Fe River President Rick Lanese; WWALS Watershed Coalition Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman; Florida Native Plant Society Sarracenia Chapter President Jack Richardson; Florida Native Plant Society Citrus Chapter President Joy Semelka; and Climate Reality Project North Broward and Palm Beach County co-Chair Susan Steinhauser.

The organizations said resources exist to meet environmental needs in the state.

“There is money at hand to spend on state park facility and accessibility improvements. The statutorily uncommitted funds in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF) are projected to be $824.7 million for the coming fiscal year (2026-27),” the letter reads.

“In fact, the uncommitted funding is going up by $30 million compared to the previous fiscal year. As such, budgeting at least $100 million for state parks facility improvements, and $20 million specifically for accessibility upgrades to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is entirely feasible.”