The Florida Park Service provides guests with opportunities to learn about the state’s history, flora, and fauna. Visitors can learn about significant historical events like the Battle of Olustee, or see notable land features or native wildlife, such as limestone caverns at the Florida Caverns State Park. The history of the Florida Park Service proves just as interesting as its current offerings. This section examines the early efforts of the state to conserve important land features and memorialize historic events. A discussion of the creation of the Florida Park Service in 1935, including the influence of the federal government and tourism, will follow. This section will finish by exploring the restructuring of the Florida Park Service under different state agencies.
Before the formation of the Florida Park Service, the state was involved in setting aside lands for conservation and historical memorials. The legislature, in 1899, appointed a commission to erect a monument at Olustee Battlefield, the site of a Confederate victory in 1864. Ten years later in 1909, the state acquired and designated as a memorial the site of the Olustee Battlefield, making it the first established unit of what would become the Florida State Park system.[1] The 1921 legislative session appropriated funds for the preservation of the Dade Battlefield site as a memorial and to assist the United Daughters of the Confederacy in erecting monuments at the battlefields of Marianna and Natural Bridge.[2]
With several memorials established by the state, the legislature introduced bills in an effort to create a state park service. During the 1925 legislative session, a bill was introduced and passed establishing the Florida State Park System though no appropriations were provided. Proving more successful, a bill passed creating the State Board of Forestry in 1927. Despite the absence of an official state park service, the state assumed ownership of Highlands Hammock from Margaret Roebling in 1934. Highlands Hammock Incorporated, managed by Roebling, provided half of the funds for the project with the state matching the funds for six years.[3] When the state created the Florida Park Service in 1935, Highlands Hammock became the first official park.[4]
Federal resources and an interest in tourism generated an ideal situation for the establishment of the Florida Park Service. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), formed in 1933, affected the development of the Florida Park Service through the stimulus it provided for public land acquisition.[5] Florida developed seven parks under a cooperative program with the National Parks Service and the CCC.[6] In addition to these developments in infrastructure, state legislators also saw the parks as possible spaces for tourism. They knew this from the popularity of national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite and the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, which brought over 13 million visitors to the Florida Hall.[7] In 1935, the legislature established the Florida Park Service, under the Board of Forestry, with an annual budget of $25,000. In the same year, Myakka River State Park, Hillsborough River State Park, Torreya State Park, and Gold Head Branch State Park received state park status.
The Florida Park Service experienced many changes in the first few decades of its existence. The 1941 legislature changed the name of the Florida Board of Forestry to the Florida Board of Forestry and Parks, specifying that the park director would continue to work under the supervision of the state forester.[8] In 1944, the park service defined its objective, which was “to save some representative unspoiled Florida scenery for the use and enjoyment of future generations, to provide healthful outdoor recreation, promote conservation of wildlife and other natural resources, encourage education and travel and altogether make Florida a better place in which to live.”[9] By doing so, the Florida Park Service officially recognized its commitment to conservation.
The Florida Park Service operated under the forestry service for fourteen years. Senator LeRoy Collins, who later became governor, sponsored a concurrent resolution "providing for the appointment of a joint senate-house committee to plan and prepare a program for the development and extension of state parks and monuments" in 1947.[10] Setting the tone for Chapter 25353 in 1949, Collins and his colleagues acknowledged the differences between the forestry and park services.[11] With the passage of the bill, the state formed a Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials (commonly called the Board) to administer the park service.[12]
The Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, now a completely independent agency, had clearly defined direction.[13] The functions of the Board included preserving historical sites and memorials, presenting interpretations to the public, and “contribut[ing] materially to the development of a strong mental, moral and physical fibre in the people.”[14] The Board was responsible for protecting the land and species inhabiting the areas and providing trails, trailside museums, and natural history and historical interpretative museums and programs.[15]
No longer under the guidance of the forestry service, the Board had a new administrative system. The major functions of the office were defined as “planning and design; keeping records on all expenditures and income, requesting bids and making purchases of major items, approval of all expenditures; review and awarding of contracts and correlation of activities within parks; information and education.”[16] The parks fell into four districts that were monitored by a district supervisor. The supervisors conducted monthly inspections of each state park or historical site within his district. Inspection included “that of public use facilities, equipment, fire protection, and personnel.”[17] A park superintendent or custodian managed each park and was responsible for the park’s personnel and records.[18] In 1963, the Land Acquisition Trust Fund allowed for an accelerated acquisition program, which led to the addition of eighty-four units by 1969.[19]
The revision of the State Constitution in 1969, resulted in the reorganization of the structure of government. With the passage of Florida Chapter Law 69-106, the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials merged with the Outdoor Recreational Development Council to form the Division of Recreation and Parks, under the Department of Natural Resources. For the first time, the concepts of ‘Recreation’ and ‘Parks’ were combined into one agency.[20]
The Department of Natural Resources managed the Florida Park Service with little change until 1993. During that period, funds from various sources were appropriated to support the FPS.[21] When Florida Chapter Law 93-213 passed, the Department of Natural Resources merged with the Department of Environmental Regulation to form the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1993.[22] The duties of the former Departments were transferred to DEP, including the Florida Park Service and its functions.[23] The FPS continues to reside under the Department of Environmental Protection.
Before the formation of the Florida Park Service, the state was involved in setting aside lands for conservation and historical memorials. The legislature, in 1899, appointed a commission to erect a monument at Olustee Battlefield, the site of a Confederate victory in 1864. Ten years later in 1909, the state acquired and designated as a memorial the site of the Olustee Battlefield, making it the first established unit of what would become the Florida State Park system.[1] The 1921 legislative session appropriated funds for the preservation of the Dade Battlefield site as a memorial and to assist the United Daughters of the Confederacy in erecting monuments at the battlefields of Marianna and Natural Bridge.[2]
With several memorials established by the state, the legislature introduced bills in an effort to create a state park service. During the 1925 legislative session, a bill was introduced and passed establishing the Florida State Park System though no appropriations were provided. Proving more successful, a bill passed creating the State Board of Forestry in 1927. Despite the absence of an official state park service, the state assumed ownership of Highlands Hammock from Margaret Roebling in 1934. Highlands Hammock Incorporated, managed by Roebling, provided half of the funds for the project with the state matching the funds for six years.[3] When the state created the Florida Park Service in 1935, Highlands Hammock became the first official park.[4]
Federal resources and an interest in tourism generated an ideal situation for the establishment of the Florida Park Service. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), formed in 1933, affected the development of the Florida Park Service through the stimulus it provided for public land acquisition.[5] Florida developed seven parks under a cooperative program with the National Parks Service and the CCC.[6] In addition to these developments in infrastructure, state legislators also saw the parks as possible spaces for tourism. They knew this from the popularity of national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite and the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, which brought over 13 million visitors to the Florida Hall.[7] In 1935, the legislature established the Florida Park Service, under the Board of Forestry, with an annual budget of $25,000. In the same year, Myakka River State Park, Hillsborough River State Park, Torreya State Park, and Gold Head Branch State Park received state park status.
The Florida Park Service experienced many changes in the first few decades of its existence. The 1941 legislature changed the name of the Florida Board of Forestry to the Florida Board of Forestry and Parks, specifying that the park director would continue to work under the supervision of the state forester.[8] In 1944, the park service defined its objective, which was “to save some representative unspoiled Florida scenery for the use and enjoyment of future generations, to provide healthful outdoor recreation, promote conservation of wildlife and other natural resources, encourage education and travel and altogether make Florida a better place in which to live.”[9] By doing so, the Florida Park Service officially recognized its commitment to conservation.
The Florida Park Service operated under the forestry service for fourteen years. Senator LeRoy Collins, who later became governor, sponsored a concurrent resolution "providing for the appointment of a joint senate-house committee to plan and prepare a program for the development and extension of state parks and monuments" in 1947.[10] Setting the tone for Chapter 25353 in 1949, Collins and his colleagues acknowledged the differences between the forestry and park services.[11] With the passage of the bill, the state formed a Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials (commonly called the Board) to administer the park service.[12]
The Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, now a completely independent agency, had clearly defined direction.[13] The functions of the Board included preserving historical sites and memorials, presenting interpretations to the public, and “contribut[ing] materially to the development of a strong mental, moral and physical fibre in the people.”[14] The Board was responsible for protecting the land and species inhabiting the areas and providing trails, trailside museums, and natural history and historical interpretative museums and programs.[15]
No longer under the guidance of the forestry service, the Board had a new administrative system. The major functions of the office were defined as “planning and design; keeping records on all expenditures and income, requesting bids and making purchases of major items, approval of all expenditures; review and awarding of contracts and correlation of activities within parks; information and education.”[16] The parks fell into four districts that were monitored by a district supervisor. The supervisors conducted monthly inspections of each state park or historical site within his district. Inspection included “that of public use facilities, equipment, fire protection, and personnel.”[17] A park superintendent or custodian managed each park and was responsible for the park’s personnel and records.[18] In 1963, the Land Acquisition Trust Fund allowed for an accelerated acquisition program, which led to the addition of eighty-four units by 1969.[19]
The revision of the State Constitution in 1969, resulted in the reorganization of the structure of government. With the passage of Florida Chapter Law 69-106, the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials merged with the Outdoor Recreational Development Council to form the Division of Recreation and Parks, under the Department of Natural Resources. For the first time, the concepts of ‘Recreation’ and ‘Parks’ were combined into one agency.[20]
The Department of Natural Resources managed the Florida Park Service with little change until 1993. During that period, funds from various sources were appropriated to support the FPS.[21] When Florida Chapter Law 93-213 passed, the Department of Natural Resources merged with the Department of Environmental Regulation to form the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1993.[22] The duties of the former Departments were transferred to DEP, including the Florida Park Service and its functions.[23] The FPS continues to reside under the Department of Environmental Protection.
Notes:
[1] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, accessed January 3, 2015, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[2] Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, Histories of Southeastern State Park Systems (Raleigh: Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, 1977), 22.
[3] David Nelson, “Florida Crackers and Yankee Tourists: The Civilian Conservation Corps, the Florida Park Service, and the Emergence of Modern Florida Tourism” (Dissertation, Florida State University, 2008), 67.
[4] Ibid.
[5] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[6] Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, Histories of Southeastern State Park Systems, 26.
[7] Nelson, “Florida Crackers and Yankee Tourists,” 78-80.
[8] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[9] Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, Histories of Southeastern State Park Systems 21.
[10] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Legislative Budget for 1963 Session, Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, Budgets 1948-1969 (Series S1942), State Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
[13] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[14] Legislative Budget for 1963 Session, Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, Budgets 1948-1969 (Series S1942).
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid.
[22] Ibid.
[23] Allen Morris, Joan Perry Morris, and the Florida House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, The Florida Handbook, 2013-2014 (Tallahassee: Florida House of Representatives, 2014), http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/filestores/Adhoc/FloridaHandbook/The%20Florida%20Handbook%202013-2014.pdf, 120.
[1] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, accessed January 3, 2015, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[2] Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, Histories of Southeastern State Park Systems (Raleigh: Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, 1977), 22.
[3] David Nelson, “Florida Crackers and Yankee Tourists: The Civilian Conservation Corps, the Florida Park Service, and the Emergence of Modern Florida Tourism” (Dissertation, Florida State University, 2008), 67.
[4] Ibid.
[5] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[6] Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, Histories of Southeastern State Park Systems, 26.
[7] Nelson, “Florida Crackers and Yankee Tourists,” 78-80.
[8] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[9] Association of Southeastern State Park Directors, Histories of Southeastern State Park Systems 21.
[10] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Legislative Budget for 1963 Session, Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, Budgets 1948-1969 (Series S1942), State Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
[13] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[14] Legislative Budget for 1963 Session, Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, Budgets 1948-1969 (Series S1942).
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] “State Park Timeline,” Department of Environmental Protection, http://www.floridastateparks.org/history/timeline.cfm.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid.
[22] Ibid.
[23] Allen Morris, Joan Perry Morris, and the Florida House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, The Florida Handbook, 2013-2014 (Tallahassee: Florida House of Representatives, 2014), http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/filestores/Adhoc/FloridaHandbook/The%20Florida%20Handbook%202013-2014.pdf, 120.