TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet have agreed to give land to the National Park Service for a visitors center at St. Augustine's historic Castillo de San Marcos.

The panel approved donating a quarter acre of surplus state land across the street from the fort Tuesday after getting a personal appeal from U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park.

At Mica's urging, Crist and Cabinet members agreed to remove a reverter clause from the deal. Mica said a federal law authorizing the structure requires federal title to the land without deed restrictions.

St. Augustine also is contributing land for the project expected to cost up to $12 million.

The fort built by Spain nearly 340 years ago attracts about a million visitors each year.