The Friends of Blue Spring State Park
About Us
The Friends of Blue Spring State Park is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Citizen Support Organization (CSO) of volunteers dedicated to helping to ensure Blue Spring State Park remains a fun, interesting, educational, and beautiful place to visit! We provide support to the park through volunteering, educating visitors, hosting events and raising funds for specific park projects. The funds we raise can provide additional equipment, buildings, programs, and renovations according to the needs of the park.
Become a Member
By becoming a member of the Friends of Blue Spring State Park, you receive access to special members only events, free visits to the park, receive our newsletters, sign up to volunteer, and join our monthly meetings.
The R&H Gemberling & L&P Miller Memorial Foundation generously donated $93,555 to Friends of Blue Spring State Park CSO on July 2.
Scott Miller, Foundation President, said Board members and their children grew up in the area. They have fond memories of the many days they spent at Blue Spring State Park and wanted to give back to the Park. The donation will be used for projects or services to increase wildlife awareness, for education or to enhance the BSSP visitor’s experience for years to come.
The CSO is grateful for the Foundation’s financial support. The CSO leadership and Park Management are working together to research projects.
All big or small donations are greatly appreciated. You can donate on this website. For any grant opportunities or other donations, please contact Nancy Jeffreys at Njeffreysbluespringcso@gmail.com or Katherine Hallum at Khallumbluespringcso@gmail.com.
Our Accomplishments & Initiatives
Here’s how your Donations have Made a Difference!
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Your donations have made possible a large viewing deck of the new rescue and release ramp project. This ramp will replace the previous wooden staircase and significantly assist researchers with manatee releases.
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Your donations have enabled the Friends to purchase a brand new Ford F-150 truck for the rangers to use. We have also purchased 3 Cushman Haulers.
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The Friends of Blue Spring State Park was able to purchase new underwater hydrophone equipment that will allow park guests to hear manatees underwater.
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The Friends of Blue Spring State Park was able to fund the purchase of a new Kubota Zero turn Diesel mower large enough for the fields and grounds of our park.
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Thanks to your donations we could also purchase 2 new trailers to hold our event materials and our all terrain tracked chairs.
Know Before You Go!
Blue Spring State Park is located at 2100 W. French Ave in Orange City, FL 32763
Hours:
The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.
ADMISSION FEES:
Admission: $6 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
RESTRICTIONS:
Please note that the spring run is closed every year from November to March for Manatee Season.
If you have additional questions, please check out Florida State Park - Blue Spring for additional information
Think Before You Float!
This is a friendly reminder that all glitter tubes are prohibited at Blue Spring State Park for the safety of the wildlife that call the park home.
Glitter tubes might look fun, but they have a big risk of harming fragile springs. Most glitter is made of microplastic—tiny bits that never break down. The risk lies in the glitter escaping the enclosed tube when broken or damaged and leaking into the water. When glitter gets in the water, it can be ingested by manatees and other wildlife including birds, turtles and fish, causing serious harm or even be fatal. Most glitter is plastic, hard to clean up and doesn’t go away.
Protect our springs. Skip the glitter.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
