DUNEDIN, Fla. — A new report says Florida State Parks are in need of nearly $760 million of repairs over the next decade.
What You Need To Know
Report said Florida state parks are in need of hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs
Two-thirds of the money is recommended for repairing visitor centers, cabins, pavilions, restrooms and more
Other needed money would go to repairing roads, upgrading wastewater infrastructure and stabilizing shorelines
The report comes from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and lays out areas of need.
For those who visit our state parks, like Dustin Patrick, he said he wouldn’t mind some improvements.
“Fixing the roads coming in would be good,” he said. “The parking lots during the summer, they just fill with water.”
Republican State Senator Gayle Harrell said this report is a good first step toward funding outdated infrastructure.
“I think it’s critical needs first, and then you face things, and you say OK, next step,” she said. “What are the next most serious things?”
The report recommends two-thirds of the money for repairing visitor centers, cabins, pavilions, restrooms and more.
Around a quarter of the money is recommended for repairing roads running through the parks, and another 10% toward replacing and upgrading wastewater infrastructure and stabilizing shorelines.
The report also touches on other needs as well.
Andrew Harris with the Sierra Club is hopeful the legislature will move forward with these repairs, and that Honeymoon Island will see improvements.
“I think a lot of parks, especially North Florida, Central Florida, are going to need the majority of those funds, but some of it will come here too,” he said.
The legislature previously approved $15 million for state park improvements for this year.
Compared to the 2024 fiscal year, $59 million was spent on maintenance.