By STAFF REPORTS
State officials on Friday announced the addition of Shoal River Headwaters State Park just west of Defuniak Springs, in Florida’s Panhandle.
The announcement, which included guided tours for attendees, comes almost a decade after the last park was added to the award-winning system. That was Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, which was added in 2017. It was previously a private park northwest of Gainesville on the Sante Fe River.
Now Shoal River Headwaters State Parks becomes park No. 176 in Florida. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection describes it as 2,480 acres of rolling sandy hills, mesic flatwoods and floodplain forests that border tributaries of the Shoal River.
“Florida’s Park Service is a national leader and with each new addition we continue to raise the standard for conservation and resource-based recreation,” said DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert. “Shoal River Headwaters State Park highlights our commitment to protecting Florida’s natural treasures while providing new ways for visitors to explore, experience and enjoy the outdoors.”
The park features options for hiking and wildlife viewing while the state develops long-term recreation and land management activities. The state has plans for camping, biking, and paddling.
“Shoal River Headwaters is a special place today, and it will only get better as we plan thoughtfully for recreation and conservation,” said Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher. “Our goal is to ensure visitors can enjoy it for decades to come while protecting its remarkable habitats.”
Shoal River Headwaters protects habitat for rare and imperiled species, while supporting aquifer recharge and maintaining the quality and natural functions of wetlands and waterways. Situated within the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape, this property serves as important buffer land, supports military readiness and links with nearby conservation lands to form connected wildlife corridors.
“I am so excited that another tract of Walton County’s natural beauty is being preserved in Shoal River Headwaters State Park,” said Florida Representative Shane G. Abbott. “This new state park will ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to enjoy the natural Florida that I did growing up.”
