10th Annual March
For Parks
Big Cypress National Preserve in
South Florida - March 20, 2010
 

Over 500 Diverse South Florida Residents to Explore Kirby Storter Boardwalk in Big Cypress National Preserve. National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis to Join as Keynote Speaker

Hundreds of South Florida residents are expected to participate in the 10th Annual March for Parks, a national awareness event that aims to expose South Floridas diverse communities to its local national park sites.  This year, area residents will have the opportunity to explore the Kirby Storter Boardwalk area located within Big Cypress National Preserve.  In addition, local residents will have the opportunity to celebrate the opening of the new Big Cypress Welcome Center and explore the nature and beauty of the Preserve, enjoy free transportation, guided park tours, educational activities, raffle drawings and demonstration of restoration efforts. 

March for Parks is designed to encourage a new set of visitors to support national parks by making its visitor base just as diverse as the community that surrounds the vegetation and wildlife in the park.  Although ethnic and racial groups such as Hispanics, African Americans, Haitians, and Caribbean Americans call South Florida home, many remain largely underrepresented from national parks as visitors, subjects of interpretation, and employees.

Free transportation will be offered to area residents.  Buses will be available at the following nine locations: 

Ft. Lauderdale Tri-Rail Station departing at 7:30 a.m. (I-95 & Broward Blvd.); Hollywood Tri-rail Station departing at 7:30 a.m. (I-95 & Hollywood Blvd); Golden Glades Park & Ride departing at 7:30 a.m. (Intersection of I-95 and SR 826); MLK Metrorail Station departing at 7:30 a.m. (6205 N.W. 27th Avenue); Notre Dame Catholic Church departing at 7:30 a.m. (110 N.E. 62nd Street); J.C. Bermudez Park departing at 7:30 a.m. (3000 N.W. 87th Avenue); Florida City,  City Hall departing at 8:00 a.m. (404 W. Palm Drive); Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Immokalee departing 8:00 a.m. (207 S. 9th Street); Messiah Lutheran Church, Naples departing at 8:00 a.m. (5800 Golden Gate Parkway). 

Held on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 10am-3pm ET
Big Cypress National Preserve, 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141
For more information about the 2010 March for Parks, please call (877) 858.7337.

About South Florida Community Partners - The South Florida Community Partners is a dynamic group of residents, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, activists and volunteers who join with the National Park Service staff to enhance cultural diversity in South Florida's National Parks by providing programs, resources and opportunities that are available to all.  For information about the SFCP, please call 877.858.7337. 

Learn more about Big Cypress National Preserve - Visit http://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm