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Legislation to allow companies to buy ad space at state parks has been filed in Tallahassee. The idea is just one of many recent plans to generate money for Florida parks. As Whitney Ray tells us, so far all the plans have failed.

Underground at this Florida state park is a time capsule not to be unearthed until 2035. But what state parks look like by then or if they’ll even exist may depend on how the legislature decides to fund them. A bill to sell advertising on trail signs to help the underfunded parks has been filed for next year’s legislative session.

Frank and Susan Lowe don’t like the plan. They traveled 4-thousand miles from England to visit the state’s parks.

“It’s like the wilderness isn’t it? The wilderness part of it, that’s what we’ve come for,” said Susan.

The Lowes say more Brits would visit Florida parks if they were advertised better. But If there were enough money to promote Florida parks our lawmakers might not be looking at selling ad space on trails.

Legislation to allow advertising in parks failed last year because it was tied to plans to sell ads on interstate road signs. By the time road ads were removed from the bill it was too late. But for these tourists from across the pond ads are a better fit for roads not trails.

“When you come up the interstate it’s all advertising and you just want to get away from that,” said Susan.

The trails for sale bill is just one of several ideas to save the parks. A plan to open RV lots and golf courses on the state lands failed earlier this year after public outcry. There are no official studies on the amount of money selling ad space on trails would generate, but supporters say it’s 10s of millions of dollars.