Over the years, millions of people have visited Florida’s state parks. From Pensacola and Jacksonville to Naples, Miami and Key West, residents and visitors have enjoyed time with family and friends enjoying the great outdoors.

In 2010, Florida’s state parks will celebrate their 75th Anniversary.

To commemorate, please share your memories and photos.

Guidelines for Written Memories

Please limit your original story with no more than 300 words. Include the name of the state park, year of visit and an account of your time spent there. Include stories about your activities, such as picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, etc. Also include your name, current address, phone number and email address.

Email your memory to PhotoDonations@dep.state.fl.us or fax to (850) 412-0466.

We will post a selection of the stories and photos submitted on our Web site during the Anniversary year. We will not publish your complete name or contact info. Example – John, Ocala, Florida

We reserve the right to edit, paraphrase, correct spelling and grammar and condense to an appropriate length, if necessary.

Guidelines for Donating Photographs

1. The person donating the written memory and photographs must be 18 years old or older.
2. The photos must have been taken at a Florida state park or on its waters. Former state parks are acceptable. Subject matter may include faces, people engaged in recreation activities, special events, wildlife, family outings, ranger-led tours, volunteer projects and underwater shots. The photos may not include any exotic species of plant or animal. Example, no iguanas or Australian pines.
3. Please do not place borders, frames or backgrounds around the images or add watermarks, dates, signatures or copyright images onto photos.
4. A Photographer Release, signed by the photographer, must accompany each photograph.
5. Photographs submitted that feature recognizable people must include a signed Model Release form. A parent or guardian must consent for people under 18 years old. Employees and volunteers who appear in the photos are not required to sign this form.
6. There are three ways to submit photographs.
1. Donors may email their digital photos (up to 5 MB total for each email) to Photo.Donations@dep.state.fl.us. Completed Photographer Release forms and Model Release forms may be scanned and emailed to the same email address. Forms may also be faxed to (850) 412-0466. Please do not send inquiries to this email address or fax number.
2. Donors may submit photographs digitally by mail on a CD or DVD.
3. Donors may send prints. These will NOT be returned.
4. Send to:
   
   

   Florida Department of Environmental Protection
   Martha Robinson / Photograph Donations
   3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 30
   Tallahassee, FL 32399

Photo Format

1. Digital photographs must be a minimum resolution of 1024x768 (or higher) pixels. Formats that are accepted are .jpg and .tif. Bigger is better.
2. If available, RAW or digital negative formats, including .DNG, NEF, CRW, CR2, ORF. Photographers with high-end equipment will understand these formats.
3. Photographs may be either in vertical or horizontal format.

Use of Photos

1. Entry materials will not be returned.
2. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reserves the right to crop photographs for display purposes, if necessary, and for other needs as required or as they see fit.
3. In the event that ownership of any photograph submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is contested in any manner, Florida Department of Environmental Protection reserves the right to discontinue use of said photograph and disqualify the photograph from the contest.
4. The Department of Environmental Protection has non-exclusive rights to use and publish the photographs. The Department recognizes that the photographer owns the image and the copyright to the photograph. Photos may be used on the Internet, Intranet, in publications or other promotional materials. Photo may be released to the media.