Nature Exhibits and Parks St. Marks River State Park will be Florida's 161st State Park
Written by DEP Tuesday, 02 October 2007 08:33
DEP Readies 161st State Park for Recreational Use
--State park system developing management plan for Northwest Florida park--
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service is welcoming visitors to the 161st state park, St. Marks River State Park. Located in Jefferson and Leon counties, the 2,589-acre property lies only 20 miles outside of Tallahassee. The state park aids in buffering the St. Marks River from development and preserves its water quality while also protecting the natural communities in the floodplain.
“The division will hold public workshops for interested community members to help develop the unit management plan for the park,” said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “We anticipate adding a parking area, accessible restroom facilities, a picnic facility and a kiosk with brochures and information about the park in the upcoming months.”
{sidebar id=1}Rich in cultural and natural resources, St. Marks River State Park houses dirt road systems dating back to the mid-1800s. State park archaeologists and resource managers are studying these road systems as well as sinkholes and other cultural sites to develop a historical understanding of the area. Currently, visitors can explore the property’s wildlife by hiking or biking on the park’s existing road system while the Florida Park Service develops the management plan and necessary infrastructure for the park.
St. Marks River State Park is home to a variety of native wildlife for visitors to experience, including the threatened black bear, bobcats, fox, deer, turkeys and fox squirrels. Birding enthusiasts can spot an array of hawks, owls and ducks wading and flying within the park. The plush river land provides a scenic assortment of plant communities including a floodplain forest, xeric hammock, flatwoods, sandhill and bay heads.
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 161 parks spanning almost 700,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach. From swimming and diving in Florida’s rivers and springs to birding and fishing or hiking and riding on natural scenic trails, Florida’s state parks offer year-round outdoor activities for all ages. Battle reenactments and Native American festivals celebrate Florida’s unique history, while art shows, museums and lighthouses offer a window into Florida’s cultural heritage.
For more information about Florida State Parks, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org .
This article originally published on October 2, 2007.
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