Every Park Vistor Matters- Lovers Key State Park

Did you Know? If every Lovers Key State Park Visitor donated $1 each time they visited, the funding for the Environmental Education exhibits would be complete in one year! Last year, Lovers Key State Park had 914,986 park visitors. Every park visitor matters... if every visitor donated $1 and picked up 1 piece of trash while at the park they would inspire others to conserve public lands AND preserve our precious park!

Construction will begin on the $5.5 million Welcome & Discovery Center Center in November 2019. The new Discovery Center will open in Fall 2020 featuring an Exhibit Hall filled with interactive exhibits about the park’s resources, restrooms, picnic area and include an indoor community room with an adjacent deck overlooking the park where programs, workshops and community events will be offered. Beneath the elevated building will be two outdoor classrooms: Under The Canopy which will provide space for larger programs and Back To The Sea Which will offer the capabilities to offer programming on sea creatures with touch tanks. 

The State of Florida has earmarked $4 million for this auspicious project which will cover the cost of construction of the building. The Friends of Lovers Key have agreed to raise funds of $1.5 million to fill the Exhibit Hall with incredibly interactive and educational exhibits which have been designed by Split Rock Studios. As well as fill the community room with educational technology such as AV equipment, microscopes, furniture as well as a Gallery Wall to feature local artists work. 

The Exhibit Hall will begin with an interactive park map highlighting each of the five park’s habitats and featuring recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities in that habitat. From there you’ll take a journey through how Lovers Key was slated to be developed into a themed housing development but instead the land was preserved for her reactions to come. Then trek across the park’s habitats discovering what makes Lovers Key unique and vital for the survival of the plants and animals which reside in the park through fun and interactive exhibits. 

Still have questions after your exploration through the Exhibit Hall? No problem, stop at the Fishing Shack to speak with a Ranger or volunteer who can help you. The Fishing Shack will be a replica of the kinds which dotted the islands of the park when there were several Fishing Camps throughout coastal Lee County. 

The new facility will also bring a new array of environmental education programming to the park with new nature programs, guest speakers, workshops, school field trip programs as well as a place to host your organization’s get together or meeting. Lovers Key State Park is known for its beautiful weddings on the beach but can you imagine being able to have your reception in the new facility? The Lovers Key Envrionmental Education Committe is currently planning and developing these new programs to become available when the facility opens in Fall 2020. 

If you would like more information about this exciting project please visit www.FriendsOfLoversKey.org Or contact the park to speak with the Park Manager. Naming Recognition opportunities are available, please contact the park directly for more information. 

To discover very more about Lovers Key State Park please visit the park’s website www.floridastateparks.org/loverskey 

Every person can make a HUGE impact with a very small first step which is truly why every park visitor matters! Please join me in making a difference and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Friends of Lovers Key Inc: Citizens Support Organaztion for Lovers Key State Park