Park volunteers earn awards from state

Barbara Toeppen-Sprigg, president of the Friends of Silver Springs State Park, center, holds the Citizen Support Organization of the Year award, with other volunteers and local and state park leadership including Chuck Hatcher, Director of Florida State Parks; James Higgins, a Park Services Specialist who oversees volunteers at Silver Springs State Park; and Matthew Bledsoe, Park Manager, Silver Springs State Park. [Photo courtesy Friends of Silver Springs State Park]

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Posted May 6, 2025 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

When you go to Silver Springs State Park, you may not notice some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on there to enhance the visitor experience. Much of that work is accomplished by the members of the Friends of Silver Springs State Park group.

The nonprofit citizen support organization includes, according to its website, “bikers, boaters, paddlers, campers, equestrians, dog walkers, hikers, photographers, bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. What brings us together is the recreational and ecological value of one of Florida’s most beautiful state parks, as well as our dedication to its preservation.”

The friends help in various ways, such as greeting visitors in the welcome center, patrolling the Silver River, assisting with special state park and Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center events and helping rangers with projects including mowing, gardening, painting and archiving.

During the Florida State Parks District 3 Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony on April 2 at the park, the friends group received four awards. The event included leaders such as Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher and more than 100 volunteers were on hand.

The honors included:
• Citizen Support Organization of the Year: Awarded to the Friends of Silver Springs State Park for exceptional accomplishment for resource-based recreation. An old concrete walkway along the spring run, damaged by decades of growing tree roots, posed a safety hazard and mobility barrier. Rather than removing the trees, which stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion, the Friends supported the Aluminum Land Bridge Project to creatively address an environmental and accessibility challenge.
• Long-Term Special Project of the Year: Awarded to volunteer Lois Rose, who, since 2013, has dedicated more than 2,600 hours to preserving the park’s rich history. Her leadership in digitizing thousands of historical photos, documents and films has unlocked fascinating stories, making the park’s vibrant past come alive for visitors and staff.
• Short-Term Special Project of the Year: Awarded to the Silver Springs maintenance team, which volunteered thousands of hours to renovate four historic safari trams, improving visitor experiences and safety while preserving park history.
• Special Event of the Year: Awarded to the volunteer team that assisted with the 30th annual Ocali Country Days event, for exceptional accomplishment for cultural resources with exceptional dedication to preserving Florida’s heritage. The team assisted with parking, safety and clean-up, shared the Florida Cracker story and promoted the Florida Park Service’s mission.

New volunteers are always welcome. Learn more at thefriendsofsilversprings.org or email [email protected]