[TVARC] Fwd: Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George Washington’s Birthday and America’s 250th Anniversary

Sat Jan 31 07:18:07 EST 2026

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Florida Department of Environmental Protection <
FloridaDEP at public.govdelivery.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 30, 2026 at 18:44
Subject: Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George
Washington’s Birthday and America’s 250th Anniversary
To: <nd8l2828 at gmail.com>

[image: Press Release Header]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 30, 2026 CONTACT: DEP Press Office,
850-245-2112, DEPNews at FloridaDEP.gov

Florida State Parks Offer Free Admission in Celebration of George Washington’s
Birthday and America’s 250th Anniversary

[image: Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales]

Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales

*TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –* As the nation begins commemorating America’s
250th anniversary,
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites residents
and visitors to explore the places where history unfolded. In honor of
George Washington’s birthday, Florida State Parks will offer free admission
from Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, through Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, encouraging
visitors to experience the landscapes that shaped the nation’s earliest
chapters.

Florida’s state parks are more than destinations for outdoor recreation.
They are living connections to the people, places and events that helped
define America long before it became a nation. From barrier islands and
riverbanks to forts and frontier settlements, these sites offer visitors a
chance to walk the same ground where history was made.

“As the nation reflects on 250 years of independence, Florida State Parks
invite visitors to experience history not just through exhibits, but
through the landscapes themselves,” *said DEP Secretary Alexis A.
Lambert. *“Our
parks offer meaningful connections to the people and events that shaped our
nation.”

Florida played a complex and often overlooked role during the Revolutionary
period. At the time, British West Florida was sometimes described as the
“fourteenth colony,” and several present-day state parks preserve sites
connected to that era.

Visitors can explore Revolutionary War-era connections at parks including:

   - Big Talbot Island State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Fparks-and-trails%2Fbig-talbot-island-state-park/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/Sp3muKklc4yTDcCqzjLeSi-t7vW3rliM1pCvqNdYts8=442>
    and Fort George Island Cultural State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Fparks-and-trails%2Ffort-george-island-cultural-state-park/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/4U_z2AlUWdxXeO1jnzPlccltuokif1D3G0tTQBCIAX4=442>,
   where plantations once produced indigo and Sea Island cotton that helped
   support the British cause.
   - Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Fparks-and-trails%2Fpaynes-prairie-preserve-state-park/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/hFltnUi1CPG2pQOT2AmJVJM6A6xmRKU2c6yqPeh-CTU=442>,
   where a frontier trading post facilitated commerce between Native Americans
   and British settlers.
   - Tomoka State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2FTomoka/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/45kK8aQS9MhtrmyfIuW41uEv7A9q9NkrVT7cOvbzgGc=442>,
   the site of a British indigo plantation along the Tomoka River.
   - San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Fparks-and-trails%2Fsan-marcos-de-apalache-historic-state-park/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/TnDka6BAjzW9rhzG1msIpBHJ1qL49voUL36kNEjl0hw=442>,
   where control of the fort shifted during periods of British rule.
   - Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Fparks-and-trails%2Ffernandina-plaza-historic-state-park/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/QqRd2qZFnLP2_9WHTEIHxRpaSyH9e2bAw0UpPsXNa5Q=442>
   , Amelia Island State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Famelia-island/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/_4GJK71_STsvf_lFVM3DnhzJvL1BS3qDF6FJTM9QENA=442>
    and Fort Clinch State Park
   <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Ffortclinch/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/f7EZICGgP1_6fHbo_CpWew-raT6K4X8dvLjt6yPimHY=442>,
   which were connected to small military conflicts and border tensions with
   the neighboring colony of Georgia.

Please note: Free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Skyway
Fishing Pier State Park
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.floridastateparks.org%252Fparks-and-trails%252Fskyway-fishing-pier-state-park%2F1%2F0100019a60414705-2b570fda-597b-49c1-bf34-7e416be6d965-000000%2Fkpt2O8gJf2lLByPMga6foQtS3MoniZZdPbIIl4NTRlA=430/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/gSXrEeVjEQKs5l-Cq2aLhm_Y8SLANDwovLaXvXLw03M=442>
 and Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.floridastateparks.org%2Fparks-and-trails%2Folustee-battlefield-historic-state-park/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/Faayt4_qrufbuhb8SeC11i6AUVcCew3sIcA1UKtoBMM=442>.
All other fees, including overnight accommodations, special events,
concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.

Find your park and plan your visit at FloridaStateParks.org
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.floridastateparks.org%252F%2F1%2F0100019b70ebb02e-b9ed35b3-56e0-4814-b846-c475b49afc32-000000%2FInGSM566GaRzKfNN96ln0nfX7SXBFzqSJGlgSwjOP6g=437/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/8-Ql8cSdkqJ2qGFJOndv1ovB3jsLkKIm69BY5T70iA0=442>.
To
learn more about Florida’s role in America’s 250th anniversary, visit
America250FL.com
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Famerica250fl.com%2F/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/q4DTrO7Mc7yynD241hhfTpyJVJ7-nO5FTlgSrkEQuUM=442>
.

###
About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal
environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s
environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and
state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans
up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution
prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation.
The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic
preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fsecure-web.cisco.com%2F1pfGSkuGLyscBHqGBpUp5MMCXkqbp-tbUTtFvNk6ojtLZ1NVHAVLbrU2hXtaXyQMkv2EbwZnlFJrbD0eagRbHstRsvSvRjZs_LiHxWGoIp-lL5ru1o12r-n0uGjGQH-k7ne09qb8r-dVH_lQBtQbveiqIISxTicv_2qoNUlPWxTwvNFNt7eVVJfqO6mr0U_8MfFztZXeKargqVYDjsEAj_5DfAOwsSzrguWteuPsQG8w-fWedyFxVf7KPnbPgqDFiC8IE4oUBfKlK5dyT9J1Q2vwCZ01SAM_OXrYWRXHPxf5s_yrSwRPEzHYJx-25w7Nx%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Ffloridadep.gov%252F/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/o_M1RHsBpU-7mUQgWftvMgwyBBIGsMqSMT3JGKz6mzc=442>
.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/406eccd
[image: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Logo]
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ffloridadep.gov/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/ZDcrhmbhLAHZBhetoY09ULlw1cz94tLp49IA5DyVUkQ=442>
[image:
Sign up for email updates]
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fpublic.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FFLDEP%2Fsubscriber%2Fnew/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/-BzCRMxGiW6u7yOXDYso3z4Hjs31MRWUYLfqjvS41RI=442>
[image:
Visit us on Twitter]
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FFLDEPNews/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/4NEKPhgk7PmCwDqvEl69KrlE2oHQh_WwDhNodgx3BtA=442>
[image:
EasyAsOne Blog]
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFLDEP/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/LUbxDERt1voxHV2uIR2ZccqpPJ7lEWE6VQ2sP3QeoCo=442>

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Preferences
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fpublic.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FFLDEP%2Fsubscriber%2Fnew%3Fpreferences=true/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/u5VgF5pZrdVgHIxOC7cPV8xcm3122SfbZ1qE-yu3SEA=442>
  |  Delete Profile
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fpublic.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FFLDEP%2Fsubscriber%2Fone_click_unsubscribe%3Fverification=5.f492dd198d686ba9066a6c5b08787c72%26destination=nd8l2828%2540gmail.com/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/7bSwTPqz3uTgq-G79wcZF13rje61gS796gnpUD4NTac=442>
  |  Help
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fsubscriberhelp.govdelivery.com%2F/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/WQUOaImYrsMN-qI3R-L-kL9oxT2Ksjzw_rZhxeIljP0=442>

------------------------------
This email was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of:
Florida Department of Environmental Protection · 3900 Commonwealth
Boulevard · Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/3900+Commonwealth+Boulevard%C2%A0%C2%B7%C2%A0Tallahassee,+FL+32399-3000?entry=gmail&source=g>
·
850.245.2118 [image: GovDelivery logo]
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fsubscriberhelp.granicus.com%2F/1/0100019c114b5026-aaf0f272-b583-466b-8071-385389095632-000000/VmRhUABojlDm4oixdLTsfcTGmjneIwLVLfktEMMkIt8=442>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/tvarc/attachments/20260131/4ecdeae3/attachment.html>