Florida's attempts to balance its budget could temporarily shut down 19 state parks.
The Division of Recreation and Parks has volunteered to shut down the parks starting in July to save an estimated $1.5 million, according to an e-mail from Jessica Kemper, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
"This is something we're offering to do to play our part," Kemper said in a phone interview.
The closings were proposed in response to a request that all government agencies cut their budgets by 10 percent, Kemper said. The park closures are part of a larger plan to cut the division's budget by about $7.7 million.
The Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry is among the 19 parks proposed for closing.
The parks were chosen based on high operating costs in comparison to few visitors, the e-mail stated.
If the budget cut is passed by the governor's office, one employee would stay on as caretaker as the 19 parks close their gates.
Kemper said the division would transfer other full-time employees to other state parks if possible, but part-time positions would be reduced or eliminated.
Although the division intends to reopen the state parks, Kemper said it is impossible to say how long they would remain closed.
"There's not really a set time period," she said.
"It all depends on the economic climate of the state."
