Florida Named Finalist for 2025 National Gold Medal Award  

~ Four-time Gold Medal winner once again competes for the nation’s highest honor in public lands stewardship ~ 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State Parks has once again been named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This award, administered by the American Academy for Park and Recreation in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association recognizes the best park systems across the U.S. 

Florida is competing in the State Park System category and remains the only state to have earned the Gold Medal four times, more than any other in the nation. The Florida Park Service, one of the largest systems in the country, manages 175 state parks spanning more than 815,000 acres, including 101 miles of sandy beaches, 3,024 miles of trails and 18 springs parks.  

This past fiscal year, Florida State Parks welcomed more than 30 million visitors, generating over $82 million in revenue and contributing an estimated $3.7 billion in statewide economic impact. 

“We are honored to be named a finalist for the Gold Medal Award,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Florida’s state parks are more than destinations. They reflect our commitment to protecting natural resources and ensuring all Floridians and visitors can enjoy the beauty and biodiversity of this great state. I’m proud of the dedicated park staff and volunteers who help make our system a model for the nation.” 

Established in 1965, the Gold Medal Award honors park and recreation agencies that demonstrate excellence in long-term planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, programming, professional development and community engagement. The State Park category is awarded every two years.  

Other finalists in the 2025 State Park category include Ohio State Parks & Watercraft and Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. The winner will be announced at the National Recreation and Park Association’s Annual Conference, taking place Sept. 16–18, 2025, in Orlando. 

      Every Thursday at 9am.

Come and join park staff on a weekly hike of Wekiwa Springs State Park. Paid admission into the park is required at ranger station. Every week allows the unique opportunity to learn about Wekiwa Spring fascinating history, wildlife, native plants and foraging, prescribed burning, and more with a park ranger. Meet at end of park drive at Sand Lake parking lot no later than 9am. Great opportunity for school groups and home school learning for all ages. See you there!

February 21, 2026
The 39th Real Florida 5K-10K

February 22-28, 2026
20th Wekiva Paint Out

Ethel was a thriving township at Rock Springs that has long since disappeared. You can learn more about it by clicking on the recently updated 'History of Rock Springs' button above. The Friends of Ethel are working to bring Ethel alive again with a walk back in time. There are brochures for self-guided hikes with interpretive panels along the way and markers at sites of special interest. There are also guided hikes, and these are posted on our Meet Up Wekiva webpage. We have built a pavilion with picnic tables near the trailhead for visiting school groups and others interested in learning more about this remarkable story.

Now we plan to build two 1880s homestead cabins, one to house a small museum and the other to be simply furnished as it would have been then.