NICEVILLE, Fla. — Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville is among the Florida state parks set to receive a new electric bicycle this fall as part of a statewide program aimed at helping park rangers work more efficiently while reducing emissions.
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The Florida State Parks Foundation announced that 25 new Velotric Nomad 2 Fat Tire e-bikes will be distributed to parks across Florida, bringing the number provided to park rangers through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative to 75 since 2024.
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park is one of three Northwest Florida parks listed to receive a new e-bike. Shoal River Headwaters State Park in DeFuniak Springs and Three Rivers State Park in Sneads also are included.
Each of the new e-bikes features a 750-watt motor, a range of up to 65 miles and a maximum payload of more than 500 pounds, according to the Foundation.
The bikes give rangers another way to travel across large park landscapes, including rugged or remote areas that may be difficult to reach with larger vehicles. The Foundation said the bikes’ quiet electric motors also help preserve peaceful surroundings for visitors and wildlife while producing no emissions.
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“These e-bikes reduce our state parks’ environmental footprint and encourage sustainability while also helping our amazing park rangers manage natural resources and deliver outstanding visitor services and experiences,” said Julia Gill Woodward, CEO of the Florida State Parks Foundation.
“We are thrilled to add 25 more e-bikes to the fleet and can’t wait to see them put to use all over the state.”
The latest e-bikes were unveiled at Silver Springs State Park near Ocala. Carousel E-Bikes of Ocala facilitated the purchase, assembly and delivery of the new bikes.
“No matter the park or task, our rangers are finding new and creative uses for these e-bikes all the time,” Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher said.
“They are a huge help, our rangers love using them and they make a real difference in so many aspects of park management and operations. Thank you to the Florida State Parks Foundation and everyone involved in providing them.”
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The Foundation created its Greener Initiative to identify and implement projects and amenities intended to reduce waste and emissions, lower energy costs and improve visitor experiences at Florida’s state parks.
Previous projects include water-bottle refilling stations at 98 state parks and trails, battery-powered tools and machinery, LED lighting upgrades and the hybrid-electric “Great Blue Heron” river tour boat at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park.
The projects are funded through contributions from community partners and sales of the “Explore Our State Parks” specialty license plate. According to the Foundation, more than 25,000 of the plates have been purchased since they debuted in 2022.
“The best thing about the license plate is that it has made a real, tangible impact that anyone can see when they visit their favorite state parks,” Florida State Parks Foundation Board President Matt Caldwell said.
“This latest fleet of e-bikes is just the latest example, and we are already looking forward to announcing more Greener projects as soon as possible.”
The fall 2026 distribution also includes parks and trails throughout Northeast, Central, Southwest and Southeast Florida, including Fort Clinch State Park, Silver Springs State Park, Myakka River State Park, Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
The Florida State Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 to support and help sustain the Florida Park Service, its parks and trails, local Friends groups and more than 20,000 park volunteers.
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