Ahead of the January 19 Martin Luther King holiday and February Black History Month, Florida State Parks are paying tribute to their African American history, especially those rooted in the history of the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation.
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park near Ft. Lauderdale is named for the Civil Rights Movement leaders who led “wade in” protests to desegregate South Florida beaches in the 1950s and 1960s. Dr. Von D. Mizell was the second black surgeon in Broward County and Eula Johnson was the president of the local NAACP Chapter. The historic beachside escape is Broward County’s undeveloped ecosystem, popular for swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, bicycling, picnicking and reconnecting with nature.
At Oleta River State Park in North Miami, the area was also part of the segregated beach system. Before 1964, state operated parks and their beaches were off limits to African Americans. Florida’s largest urban park, Oleta River State Park is known for its signature waterway that winds through a 1,000-acre natural oasis which has become a haven for mountain bikers, paddlers, anglers, swimmers and picnickers along Biscayne Bay.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in North Florida near Tallahassee also was part of the segregated park and beach system at the time. The park was integrated and inclusive, following the Civil Rights Movement. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, rimmed by ancient Cypress Swamp. Popular activities include boat tours, birding, hiking, biking, horseback riding and weddings at The Lodge. The 1930s Spanish-Style Lodge at Wakulla depicts wildlife and Old Florida.
Adventures Unbound™ by Fairfax, Virginia-based Guest Services is passionate about the transformative power of travel and immersive experiences that promise extraordinary adventures and profound moments of discovery. For complete information on Adventures Unbound by Guest Services and their Sunshine Collection of Florida State Parks, go to https://adventures unbound.com/ or call 888-688-7538.