Florida State Parks Foundation Collaborates With Duke Energy Florida for New, Accessible Playground at Wakulla Springs
The Florida State Parks Foundation has partnered with Duke Energy Florida and the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park to unveil a new accessible playground at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. The playground, inspired by the park's iconic river tour boats, includes several accessible play elements and a wide path to accommodate mobility devices. The project, costing $72,204, was primarily funded by Duke Energy Florida with a $44,000 donation.
Additional contributions included $15,000 from the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park and the remaining balance from the Foundation. This playground is part of a broader initiative by Duke Energy Florida, which has donated over $300,000 to state parks for various amenities. The new playground aims to provide inclusive recreational experiences for all visitors.
- Duke Energy Florida donated $44,000 towards the new accessible playground project.
- Duke Energy Florida has donated over $300,000 to Florida state parks in recent years.
- The new playground includes several accessible elements, enhancing inclusivity for visitors.
- Project costs were covered without incurring debt, with the total amounting to $72,204.
- The press release does not mention any financial gains or increased revenue directly related to the project for Duke Energy Florida.
WAKULLA SPRINGS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2024 / The Florida State Parks Foundation yesterday joined Duke Energy Florida and its foundation, along with the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park, to unveil a new, state-of-the-art accessible playground at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park near Tallahassee.
The new playground, located a short distance from the park's beachfront along the Wakulla River, includes several accessible play elements and a wide path to accommodate mobility devices.
The playground's centerpiece is a large glider styled in the fashion of the park's iconic river tour boats.
"Seeing a replica of the Wakulla Springs boat and all of the other fun playground experiences here brings a huge smile to my face," said Kathleen Brennan, president of the Florida State Parks Foundation board of directors. "Thanks to Duke Energy Florida and the amazing Friends of Wakulla Springs, this beautiful new playground will welcome smiling faces for many, many years to come."
Playground materials and installation costs totaled
The playground is open during regular operating hours and access is included with park admission.
"The Foundation is constantly seeking opportunities to expand accessibility in our state parks, and we are proud to have played a part in creating a playground for all children who visit Wakulla Springs," said Julia Gill Woodward, CEO of the Florida State Parks Foundation.
This is the latest in a series of collaborations between the Foundation and Duke Energy Florida to benefit Florida state parks.
In recent years, Duke Energy Florida and its foundation have donated more than
"Vibrant communities do not happen by accident. They are the result of hard work, intentional investments and collaboration with key organizations to solve challenges and nurture the places where we live, work and play," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We are proud to support the Florida State Parks Foundation and all they do to protect Florida's most-treasured parks and expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities for all."
The Foundation also unveiled the "Great Blue Heron" hybrid-electric tour boat at Wakulla Springs State Park late last year. The boat includes an extended dock ramp and wide spaces to accommodate people who use mobility devices.
"We are committed to providing inclusive recreational experiences for all of our visitors, and we are so pleased to offer these new accessible features at Wakulla Springs," Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher said. "This new playground will create fun park memories for our youngest guests, and we hope that it will help inspire a lifelong love of Florida's natural resources."
Florida State Parks Foundation
The Florida State Parks Foundation, founded in 1993 as Friends of Florida State Parks and renamed in 2018, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation whose mission is to support and help sustain the Florida Park Service, its 175 award-winning parks and trails, local Friends groups and more than 20,000 park volunteers.
It does this through programs that preserve and protect state parks, educate visitors about the value of state parks, encourage community engagement and active use of state parks, and advocacy. These projects were completed through the Florida State Parks Foundation Services LLC, which is a limited liability company affiliate of the Foundation.
The volunteer board of directors represents private and public sectors as well as local and statewide interests.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than
Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS
Florida State Parks Foundation media contact: Tim Linafelt
850.566.6118
tim@floridastateparksfoundation.org
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SOURCE: Duke Energy
View the original press release on accesswire.com
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