complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Acres: 431.63
Description:
Managing
Agency:
DRP
157
Current Management Plan
Approved:
The park was designated a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site in 2004. Cape
Florida is the home of a historic lighthouse built in 1825 and reconstructed in 1846. Visitors come
to the park to sunbathe, swim and picnic on over a mile of sandy Atlantic beachfront. Biking,
fishing and kayaking are also popular activities. “No Name Harbor” provides a sailing destination
for boaters, and restaurants run by a park concessionaire are located near the beach and on the
harbor.
Accomplishments:
Resource Management
• Installed area water meters and reduced water consumption by approximately 30 percent
• Hosted South Florida Bird Observatory and banded 5,821 birds of 63 species during Spring and
Fall migration.
• Conducted quarterly butterfly surveys and identified up to 22 species seen and up to 1006
individuals counted on a single survey.
• Increased exotic plant removal by almost 400 percent.
Visitor Services
• Created convenient Honor Pay Station at entrance for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Park beautification project improved ranger station, lighthouse and restaurant entrances.
• Designed and installed five universally accessible interpretive panels with sound and tactile
features.
• Increased lighthouse grounds hours of operation from 20 hours per week to 40 hours per week
with no additional positions.
• Installed water supply line for campers in youth group area.
Other
• Hosted Miss Florida USA and climbed to the top of the lighthouse for Climb for a Cause.
• Permitted 58 film and photo shoots including TV shows CSI Miami and Burn Notice.
• GIS mapped all park facilities and created specific maps for visitors.
2001