See the Manatee Cam

Park Friends

The Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

is a not-for-profit support group incorporated to help the Florida Park Service maintain and expand the resources of the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The Friends membership of more than 800 people have volunteered time and effort to earn funds to meet these purposes:
Conserve and enhance the wildlife and other Park resources.
Provide living space for the wildlife that is as natural as possible while allowing observation for visitors.

Increase public interest in the Park and an understanding of the natural environment of the Park.

To raise funds to implement the above purposes in accordance with the established Master Site Plan approved by the Division of Recreation and Parks.

Friends' President Eileen Schultz at the following e-mail address: eschult1@tampabay.rr.com.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Assisted in the design and preparation of the Park's Master Site Plan.

Support the "Children's Education Center"
Support and staff the "Outreach Program"
Produce a "Friends to Friends" newsletter
Contribute to the "Observer" - Park newsletter
Organize a series of events and activities
Coordinate activities involving school children
Develop partnerships with community agencies
Have consultants from the community assisting the Board of Directors
New $6,200 Fox Exhibit
Continue the good partnership with Park staff
Completed the $135,000 Birds of Prey Exhibit including boardwalks, and a Partnership in Parks Project (PIP)
Have started raising funds for the new cougar exhibit,
the second partnership parks projects.
A "Song Bird Aviary" at the Visitor's Center
FUTURE PROJECTS

Thanks to the generous grant from "The Felburn Foundation":

A new "Wildlife Care Building"
Improvements to the "New Manatee Pool"
A "Butterfly Garden"
Better habit for the "Fox Exhibit"
Improvement to the "Turkey Exhibit"
These are just a few of projected improvements.