Staff Spotlight, Tammy Rigney

Tammy Rigney, Administrative Assistant

Gasparilla Island State Park

Native Floridian Tammy Rigney is the administrative assistant for Gasparilla Island State Park, which is also the administrative office for Cayo Costa, Don Pedro Island and Stump Pass Beach state parks.  

Nature enthusiast Tammy adores being outdoors and tries to spend as much time outside as she can. She grew up in Arcadia and spent every summer vacationing on Manasota Key. As an adult, she had the  opportunity to move to Englewood, closer to the beach. When Stump Pass Beach State Park was hiring a part-time position, Tammy was persistent and pursued the position as seasonal park ranger.

“Working at a state park beach is a dream,” she said.

But when Gasparilla Island State Park had an opening with the opportunity to work with four state parks, Tammy knew that learning and experiencing more parks would be gratifying. Tammy pursued the new position, and with Southwest Florida rapidly growing with new residents and visitors, we knew her knowledge of the different beaches, plants and wildlife would be a great asset here at the Gasparilla Island administrative office.

When visitors call asking advice on the best beaches in the area, Tammy knows what activities are best for the different beach parks. She takes pride in her job and wants to make sure each visitor enjoys the best of what each park has to offer.    

Tammy sometimes comes in extra early to watch the sunrise at the Boca Grande Pass, which is the entrance to Charlotte Harbor. Some nights you will catch her back here or at Stump Pass Beach State Park watching the sunset. Here at Gasparilla Island State Park, we are fortunate to be one of the few areas in West Florida where you can catch the sunrise and sunset on the water from the same location.

Tammy will tell you that “there is a magical feeling watching the sun go up and down over the horizon.”   

She invites everyone to come to our parks and take advantage of the natural beauty that Florida has to offer on the Gulf Coast.