After an almost decade-long endeavor, the Florida Bay Forever tag is now available for South Florida residents and others to purchase. The Florida National Parks Association (FNPA), along with park staff, local dignitaries, and vehicles sporting the new license plate commemorated the achievement with a kick-off event last Thursday May 9th, at the Guy Bradley Visitor Center in Flamingo.
Florida National Park board members and park rangers at the celebration.
Jessica Pierce, FNPA Executive Director, spoke about the dual purpose and goal of the vanity tag. “We’re connecting Floridians across the state in a way that not only raises awareness for Florida Bay,” said Pierce, “but will drive funding and support back into Florida Bay and Everglades National Park.”
As such, Pedro Ramos, Superintendent of the Everglades & Dry Tortugas National Park, applauded the assistance and shared history leading up to the celebration, while noting the importance of Florida Bay in allowing the Everglades to be designated a World Heritage Site. “Florida Bay, my friends, is what opened American peoples eyes, and woke us all up to the fact that we needed to maintain and engage with Floridians and citizens from the entire country,” Ramos said. Resulting in the multi-billion dollar Everglades Restoration project, Ramos commented on how in doing so, it circles back to help here. “And we are right here at Flamingo, the gateway to Florida Bay, this is the ultimate benefactor of that work,” said Ramos, “that tag will create awareness about that commitment we made to this place,” Ramos said.
Justin Unger, NPS Associate Director for Business Services, addresses the attendees.
The concept of the Florida Bay Forever license plate was masterminded by Justin Unger, National Parks Service (NPS) Associate Director for Business Services, back in 2015. Taking the podium, Unger, while acknowledging the serendipity of celebrating this during Public Service Week, also explained the things that were needed to finalize the plate becoming a reality. “Yes, grit, and stewardship,” Unger said. “The thing I think was the magic was risk-taking and saying yes to every crazy idea that has come up.”
And with any good concept, partners were needed along the way to push it along. One of them, FNPA Vice Chairman Stephen Shelley, addressed the morning audience next about the shared history and road to fruition; also explaining how much money would be made for the FNPA. “3,000 tags would create about $75,000 a year in recurring revenue, which would then be reinvested into Everglades National Park,” said Shelley.
And while the highest selling tag – the ‘Endless Summer’ with 136,000 tags – generates 3.4 billion dollars annually, the possibilities for endless revenue for FNPA are even more infinite. Holly Merrill Raschein, Monroe County Mayor and FNPA board member, spoke as well about the connection, collaboration, and commitment involved, with a final hope for the audience. “I hope that everybody walks out today with Florida Bay Forever in their hearts, in their minds, and in their souls,” Raschein said.
Lastly, Captain Elizabeth Jolin – Councilwoman for Villages of Islamorada – concluded the speeches with gratitude for the FNPA efforts, and the Florida Bay beauty of the new tag: highlighting the awe those entering Florida Bay on her boat have for the first time. “Without fail, there is a collective sigh of wonder as we look out into the bay, and just see it all,” said Jolin. “The shimmer, the birds, the fish, the grass; it is glorious, it is otherworldly.”
Pierce later presented an award to her FNPA predecessor and Florida Bay Forever tag visionary Jim Sutton, along with his daughter Carlee Vazquez for their extensive work in promoting the license plate at numerous state-wide events. Shelley and Mayor Raschein were honored for their contributions as well, by Saul Silverman, FNPA Chairman. Shelley also awarded photographer Robert Chaplin for his full-color photo, which adorns the Florida Bay Forever license plate. Even Everglades National Park received accolades, with their very own giant Florida Bay Forever Tag by FNPA members Shelly, Silverman, and Pierce.
Superintendent of the Everglades & Dry Tortugas national park Pedro Ramos and FNPA Executive Director Jessica Pierce cut the celebratory cake.
Finalizing the celebration with an appropriately designed Florida Bay Forever Tag cake and plenty of photos outside of the different trucks and cars equipped with the new plate, FNPA looks to be well on it’s way to bringing appreciation, funds, and South Florida style to the Florida National Parks.
