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NPS Photo by Glenn Gardner
Contact: Matt Johnson, 786-335-3679 Contact: Mary Plumb, Everglades National Park, 305-242-7017 Contact: Begone Cazalis, City of Homestead, 305-224-4435 HOMESTEAD, Fla. --- The Homestead National Parks Trolley received the prestigious 2015 National Park Service (NPS) Director’s Partnership Award. It recognizes the most significant accomplishments achieved by parks and outside groups working together on projects that provide lasting benefits for parks and communities. The award was presented on behalf of NPS Director Jon Jarvis by Superintendent Brian Carlstrom and Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos at the Homestead City Council meeting on October 21, 2015. The trolley was one of eight projects nationwide that received the award and was chosen from among hundreds of partnerships that support the NPS. “The Homestead National Parks Trolley connects thousands of visitors annually with the wonders of Biscayne National Park and the community," said Superintendent Brian Carlstrom. “The trolley is a valuable partnership that continues to open doors for people to see, enjoy and engage with their national parks.” According to Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos, “The Homestead National Parks Trolley is a great way to experience these amazing places. We are thankful to our partners for their efforts, and the benefits provided by connecting tourists and local communities with the beauty of the parks.” According to City of Homestead Vice Mayor Stephen Shelley, "The award winning Homestead National Parks Trolley is the first of many initiatives that we are collaborating on to help locals and tourists worldwide find their parks as well as help create a perpetual economic engine for the ‘Gateway’ City of Homestead." The City of Homestead, Homestead Main Street, Inc., and the National Parks Conservation Association collaborated with the NPS to launch the Homestead National Parks Trolley in 2014. Together they planned routes to showcase Homestead and the national parks, arranged presentations during the trips, and coordinated trolley schedules with park programs and activities. The trolley is a free, winter-season, weekend service that provides the only public transportation to Biscayne and Everglades National Parks. Free transportation, parking and narrated tours are provided, as well as waived entrance fees. The trolley’s award winning and extensive bilingual marketing campaign will continue to introduce visitors and local residents to South Florida’s national parks for years to come. The Homestead National Parks Trolley runs from November 28, 2015, through May 1, 2016. For more information about the trolley visit cityofhomestead.com/gateway. For more information about Biscayne National Park visit nps.gov/bisc or follow the park on Facebook facebook.com/biscaynenps, Twitter twitter.com/biscaynenps or Instagram instagram.com/biscaynenps. ---NPS--- About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 408 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov. |
Last updated: November 18, 2015