Parks Celebrates Its 40th Birthday

Biscayne National Park celebrated the park's past, present and future the weekend before last as it marked its 40th anniversary.

Kicking off the three-day celebration on Friday was a gala fundraising dinner sponsored by the South Florida National Parks Trust. Nearly 200 people came out for the $150/plate dinner, held at the Deering Estate, a bayside mansion now part of the Dade County Park System. A sunset reception on the water was followed by dinner in the mansion's courtyard and a program honoring eight of the "park pioneers" who in the 1960s fought to stop the creation of an oil refinery, deepwater port, and petrochemical plant, as well as a series of causeways linking the park's islands into the City of Islandia. A silent auction featured artwork, jewelry, overnight camping trips, participation in scientific research, sailing lessons and more. Proceeds from the evening are earmarked by the trust for education programs in the park.

On Saturday, the National Parks Conservation Association sponsored a "State of the Park" symposium that highlighted current efforts to protect park resources in advance of the NPS centennial in 2016. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, an ardent supporter of the park, gave an impassioned and empowering speech over lunch and birthday cake. U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen also spoke.

Sunday brought a day of family fun for the future stewards of the park with a bayside concert featuring singer/songwriter Grant Livingston, kids activities, a documentary film screening honoring the park's founders, a book signing by Lloyd Miller, author of Biscayne National Park: It Almost Wasn't, and a giant birthday card, birthday cake and pinata.