Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Recreation & Parks

Northeast District

The Office of Park Planning has developed an innovative approach to land planning for Florida State Parks – covering all units within a district through a consolidated process. The first districtwide plan was developed for the Northeast District and is currently under review by the Acquisition & Restoration Council. Throughout 2022, OPP conducted field meetings and extensive writing and mapping in close coordination with each of the major program areas of the DRP for the district’s 45 parks and trails. In September and October 2023, draft materials were presented to the public through open-house meetings in 14 counties, giving diverse stakeholders opportunities to review proposals for resource management, interpretation, and infrastructure development. Following the open-house meetings, OPP conducted a series of five advisory group meetings organized according to four geographic sub-regions –- Suwannee River, North Florida Highlands, Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast –- and the multi-use trail system. Draft management plans were revised according to feedback and submitted to the Division of State Lands for presentation to the Acquisition & Restoration Council in June 2024.  The Acquisition & Restoration Council draft plans are available for review below.
 
Among multiple benefits, this districtwide approach to planning has enhanced efficiency of production and provided a new comparative perspective between units – maximizing our considerations of both common and unique characteristics and needs. 
 
The first phases of the planning process for all units of the Southwest District are now in progress. 

Northeast District Management Plan