Biscayne National Park: The History of a Unique Park on the “Edge.” (An Administrative History)

In the 1960s, a small group of South Florida citizens responded in outrage to proposals that would destroy their beloved Biscayne Bay. In these sparkling waters, they snorkeled with their children, struggled to catch sports fish, sailed into sunsets, and breathed in sheer beauty. From their passion, tireless energy, and media savvy, a movement arose and expanded, eventually leading to the creation of Biscayne National Monument. In 1980, the monument was expanded into a national park that, unlike others in the United States, was 95 percent underwater. Its unique natural formations and biota were to be protected for all time, along with a host of cultural artifacts from pioneer homesteads to shipwrecks. Americans today inherit the work of these activists, and the stewardship of Biscayne National Park (BNP) is anything but easy. Located on the edge of the booming Miami metropolis, the park contends with a host of issues that few other national parks face, including a nearby solid waste disposal facility, an adjacent nuclear power facility, urban development, seasonal storms and hurricanes, and a battle for water resources that may persist for decades. BNP is particularly threatened by climate change, which may inundate its biologically rich, low-lying islands and mangroves and damage its coral reefs. Additionally, the open border of the park makes law enforcement of everything from drug smuggling to illegal fishing to drunk boating logistically difficult. These challenges are compounded by the fact that many of the half million people who visit BNP every year simply may not know that they are in a national park—a complex public-identity issue the park has been working to resolve to maintain and expand its base of citizen supporters. This administrative history explores BNP’s natural and cultural resources while highlighting the many programs and issues that have affected the park. The story relies on abundant resources that include park annual reports, National Park Service reports, media and internet sources, and oral histories with park superintendents, employees, visitors, and community partners. Many of these reports are rich with information that cannot be fully surveyed here, so all sources are footnoted to expedite further exploration. Additionally, photographs, maps, and appendices appear alongside the text to enhance understanding of the value and complexities of the park’s past. This account is intended to be a concise guide to BNP’s history, management, and important challenges the park has experienced—as well as others that it will likely deal with in the years to come. This knowledge, together with lessons from the past, hopefully will inform future decisions so that Biscayne National Park will long remain a prized natural wonderland.

Biscayne National Park: The History of a Unique Park on the “Edge.” (An Administrative History)

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