FLORIDA KEYS -- Starting July 1, entrance fees for a single car carrying two people will jump two bucks to $8 at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Bahia Honda State Park, two of the state park system's more popular destinations.

State officials say the increases, along with $1 to $3 increases at most of the 160 state parks, will prevent some from closing due to budgetary constraints during the current economic recession.

Pat Wells, manager at Pennekamp, says his fiscal year attendance figures are down from the typical 1 million visitors a year to the 800,000 range.

"We are a park that is a destination resort, just like most of the businesses here," he said. "We have a staff of 23 and, fortunately, we are maintaining our existing staff level."

Capital improvements, such as a larger Pennekamp visitor center and aquarium, have been put on hold temporarily.

"Those projects are still in our plan, but budget realities over time will determine when those projects go forward," Wells said.

Camping fees also will increase an average of $4 per night, while annual passes to all state parks will increase to $60 for an individual and $120 for a family, up from $43 and $91, respectively.

Earlier in the year, state officials targeted some smaller parks in the Keys for temporary closure as a cost-saving measure. Those parks -- Indian Key Historic State Park, Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park in north Key Largo -- will remain open due to entrance fee hikes.

The voluntary donation at the gate at Dagny Johnson park will remain $2. Windley Key, Lignumvitae Key and Indian Key will increase their admission fee to $2, up from $1.50.

Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon and Long Key State Park will now charge $6 at the gate for a vehicle with two people, an increase of $1.

While Pennekamp has reported fewer visitors, state park attendance overall is up, which officials say is being driven by residents choosing recreational activities closer to home in lieu of traveling vacations.

"Attendance is at a record high," said Jessica Kemper, information director for the Florida Park Service.

"During the previous fiscal year, 2007-08, we had 20.7 million visitors. The 2008-09 fiscal year concludes at the end of June. We are on track to beat last year."

Kemper said that more visitors raise the cost of operations.

Campers and park visitors have apparently made their opinions heard.

"With state park attendance breaking records and still on the rise, we have heard overwhelming support to keep all state parks open and available to the public," said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock.

Assistant Manager Bob Rose at Windley Key says that's a good thing.

"Once you close something, it may never reopen," he said.

sgibbs@keysnews.com