From the Sierra Club
In Summary:
Dozens of conservation and environmental groups are calling on Florida lawmakers to allocate more funding for the state’s park system. In a letter sent to legislative leaders, the coalition said current budget proposals would take decades to address a $759 million maintenance backlog identified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The groups are urging lawmakers to allocate at least $100 million for park facility improvements and $20 million for ADA accessibility upgrades.
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A coalition of 32 conservation organizations, community groups, and outdoor recreation advocates is urging Florida lawmakers to significantly increase funding for the state’s park system, warning that years of deferred maintenance have created a repair backlog estimated at $759 million. In a letter sent March 9 to Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, House Speaker Daniel Perez, and members of the Legislature, the groups called for at least $120 million in dedicated funding to address facility repairs and accessibility upgrades in parks across the state.
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In its letter, the coalition writes:
"To The Honorable Ben Albritton, President, Florida Senate
The Honorable Daniel Perez, Speaker, Florida House of Representatives, Members of the Florida Legislature
Re: Invest in Florida’s State Parks
Dear President Albritton, Speaker Perez, and Members of the Legislature,
The 32 undersigned conservation organizations and coalitions, community groups, outdoor recreation advocates, and businesses, respectfully urge the Legislature to provide dedicated appropriations to address the growing maintenance backlog in Florida’s award-winning state park system.
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. 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.
At the current $25 million 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; 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.
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 (26-27); 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.
We stand ready to work with legislative leaders to ensure Florida remains a place where economic prosperity and natural resource protection advance together. A responsible budget must protect both taxpayers and the state parks of which Floridians and visitors alike are so enamored.
Floridians love their state parks–please love them too by appropriating the funds needed to bring our state parks back up to the standards that brought Florida acclaim."
Key Points:
- Thirty-two conservation and environmental organizations sent a letter to Florida legislative leaders requesting increased funding for state parks.
- The groups say Florida’s park system faces a $759 million maintenance backlog identified in a Department of Environmental Protection report.
- Current legislative budget proposals include about $25 million for park maintenance, which the coalition says could take 30 years to address the backlog.
- The letter points to nearly $824.7 million in uncommitted funds in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund as a potential funding source.
- Advocates are calling for at least $100 million for facility improvements and $20 million specifically for ADA accessibility upgrades.
