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Local advocacy group asks city to co-sponsor bipartisan rally to support parks funding
Summary
A representative of Indivisible Saint John's County requested that St. Augustine Beach co-sponsor a Sept. 13 nonpartisan rally downtown to support the National Park Service, Florida state parks and conservation lands, citing cuts to Florida Forever funding and National Park Service personnel reductions.
Susanna Pavell, co-leader of Indivisible Saint John's County, used the public-comment period on Aug. 4 to ask the commission to co-sponsor a nonpartisan rally at Castillo de San Marcos on Sept. 13 to support the National Park Service, Florida state parks and conservation lands.
Pavell said the rally — planned from 9 to 10:30 a.m. — aims to unite residents across party lines to raise awareness about threats from funding cuts and privatization efforts. She cited a reduction in Florida Forever program funding from $100,000,000 last year to $18,000,000 for the 2025–2026 cycle and said National Park Service staffing reductions of about 24% have delayed work such as prescribed burns.
Pavell asked the commission to co-sponsor the event and to send a “unified message of support for our parks.” Commissioners thanked Pavell for the presentation; the commission did not take action during the meeting, and Pavell left after her remarks.
Why it matters: The Florida Forever program and National Park Service stewardship support conservation, prescribed burns and park services that local tourism and ecosystems depend on. A city co-sponsorship would be a formal expression of support and could help publicize a civic event, but the commission did not indicate a decision at the meeting.
Next steps: Pavell’s request was placed on the record; commissioners may follow up with staff to consider whether the city will co-sponsor the Sept. 13 event and what form that support would take.
