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Miami, FL -- Tomorrow, hundreds of South Florida residents from diverse backgrounds are expected to gather to participate and experience the natural beauty of Biscayne National Park at this year’s 11^th Annual March for Parks event.  Local community participants will explore Biscayne Bay on guided canoe and boat tours, where they will encounter reenactors of conservationists and decedents of pioneering African American families whose passion for the Miami area played an important role in the creation of Biscayne National Park.  

The free, March for Parks event offers participants the ability to explore the nature and beauty of the national park, along with, guided park tours, educational activities, raffle drawings and demonstrations of restoration efforts.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to cast, and catch and release a wide variety of fish found in Biscayne National Park, educating participants on sustainable and responsible fishing in the bay.  All are sure to enjoy discovering all the variety of wildlife the mangrove shoreline and shallow bay waters offer. 

Free transportation to Biscayne National Park will also be provided from six designated locations throughout Dade and Broward counties. Event organizers are working together to encourage a new set of park enthusiasts to support Biscayne National Park by making its visitor base as diverse as the communities that surround the park. 

“It’s important that we cultivate park supporters that represent our entire community,” said Nadine Patrice from the South Florida Community Partners. 

March for Parks is organized by South Florida Community Partners, a dynamic group of residents, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, activists, and volunteers who join National Park Service staff to enhance cultural diversity in South Florida’s national parks by providing programs, resources, and opportunities available to all.

“Although many different ethnic and racial groups call South Florida home, few visit the national parks that are in their own backyard, ,” said Jackie Crucet, Sun Coast senior program coordinator for the National Parks Conservation Association.  “Attracting the next generation of park advocates is an important part of ensuring that our national parks are preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy.”

Event Details
Date:  March 26, 2011
Time:  10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location:  Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead, Florida 33033

For more information about the March for Parks event, contact the South Florida Community Partners at 305.644.9000, npatrice2010@gmail.com or www.oglhaiti.com.

About South Florida Community Partners: More than a decade ago, the National Parks Conservation Association and a group of local citizens formed the South Florida Community Partners. The group is dedicated to increasing ethnic representation among national park visitors and encouraging diverse users to become life-long advocates for our national parks. To recognize this need, the group created the annual March for Parks event, which takes place at national parks around the country each year.

About the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA): Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting our national parks. With 325,000 members and supporters, NPCA is the largest independent, membership organization dedicated to protecting the natural, cultural, and historic treasures of our National Park System. Our mission is to protect and enhance our national parks today for our children and grandchildren tomorrow. For additional information, please visit: www.npca.org.

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