The National Park Service (NPS) and community partners celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand-new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center at Everglades National Park on December 12. The new visitor’s center was two years in the making.
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“The visitor center [. . .] design incorporates sustainable features, including energy-efficient systems and durable materials suited for a coastal high-hazard zone,” reads NPS’s press release announcing the center’s re-opening. “The building is also fully accessible, with an elevator and paved pathways ensuring that all visitors can enjoy the surrounding views and facilities.”
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According to Everglades National Park in an Instagram post, the center’s name pays tribute to the legacy of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, whose “tireless advocacy helped secure protections for this extraordinary wilderness.”
Later this month, NPS says the center will fully open, becoming a place where guests can access boat tours, kayaking adventures, ranger-led programs, and wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Check out the new Everglades National Park visitor’s center here:
Header stock image of Everglades National Park by Tetra Images/Getty Images
