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St. Andrews State Park
07/12/08 - 07:16 PM

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July is National Recreations and Parks month, and to celebrate guests at all 161 State Parks across Florida enjoyed the area’s natural beauty free of cost Sunday.

The National Park Service wants to help kids connect with nature.  They say it will help the environment and also the kids.  Kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend about seven hours a day playing inside on computers, video games, and watching television.  All of that sedentary time indoors results in more cases of obesity, attention deficit disorder, and depression.

Mike Hemby has been coming to St. Andrews State Park since he was two or three years old.

“We used to come over here, camp, and then all go fishing.  I’ve been coming to Panama City for 54 years now,” Hembry recalled.

Now he brings his grand-kids.

“They like the little kiddy pool out there and you don’t have to worry about them as much.  They can wade out there and swim all day and have a good time.”

He’s not alone.  St. Andrews State Park is the second busiest park in the State.  Park officials say they saw 7,000 people over the fourth of July weekend.

Even if you missed the free day of fun, admission to the park is only five dollars per car or one dollar if you’re a pedestrian or a bicyclist.  The park is open every day from 8 o’clock in the morning until sunset.

Earlier this year St. Andrews State Park placed second on Trip-Advisers list of America’s Best Beaches.  The report mentioned the park’s child-friendly area and the ability for visitors to take ferry out to Shell Island for snorkeling.