Secretary Bernhardt Visits Locations Across Florida Supporting Outdoor Recreation

Date: Monday, June 22, 2020
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – This past weekend, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt was in central and south Florida, where he conducted several site inspections of National Park Service units, visited an outdoor recreation business, and highlighted more than $54 million in funding for clean waterways and boating infrastructure projects.

Supporting Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

Secretary Bernhardt visited a leading marine manufacturing facility in Orlando, Florida and inspected coastal restoration projects in Tampa, Florida to announce more than $54 million from Interior and our partners to keep waters clean and support outdoor recreation. This funding comes from the Clean Vessels Act (CVA) program and the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program which provide much-needed funding to communities to build and maintain facilities that help boaters keep our rivers and streams clean; and construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other boating facilities for outdoor recreation.

Restoring Access to America's Public Lands

On Saturday, June 20, Secretary Bernhardt visited Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, where he conducted a site inspection of Flamingo Marina, participated in a prescribed burn, and officiated the grand reopening of the Shark Valley Visitor's Center Tram Tours. 

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The Department manages over 500 million acres of public lands, and the overwhelming majority is accessible for the public to enjoy. More than three-fourths of National Park Service units are accessible to the public, providing recreation opportunities.

Shark Valley running tours, bike rentals as Everglades National Park expands access
Visitors to Everglades National Park can once again rent bikes or take an open tram to look for wading birds like the pink Roseate Spoonbills or spot alligators as tours around the Shark Valley Visitor Center slowly increase access to the public.

The Shark Valley visitor area reopened on June 1 as the park began to gradually allow the public to access recreational activities and campgrounds after being closed for more than two months to comply with local stay-at-home orders and other guidelines to slow transmission of COVID-19.

Full article here

Fort Lauderdale may get federal help fixing dirty waterways

Sullied by toxic sewage, Fort Lauderdale waterways are in desperate need of a cleanup that could cost millions — but there’s a chance the federal government might help foot the bill.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, wrapping up a two-state tour Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, hinted at the possibility to Mayor Dean Trantalis during a meeting atop a parking garage that overlooks the Las Olas Marina.

Full article here

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