At 164.8 acres, Long Key is one of the largest natural areas managed by Broward County Parks and Recreation. As recently as a century ago, this elevated oak hammock was part of a series of islands surrounded by Everglades marshes. Long Key encompasses some of the most significant archaeological, historical, and ecological resources in the county, as the area was inhabited by the ancient Tequestas and the more modern Seminoles. Traces of human settlement here go back 3,000 years.
In the 1900’s, Long Key became a citrus grove, a dairy farm, then Pioneer City…an Old West theme park with its own railroad…and finally, the highly-popular Kapok Tree restaurant, which was known for its Imperial Roman motif amidst spectacular landscaping. In 1990, following the closing and demolition of the Kapok Tree, Broward County acquired the land and began returning much of it to its natural state by restoring wetlands and transplanting non-native trees to other parks.
The Long Key Nature Center was completed in 2008 and today boasts a Visitor’s Center which includes a scale model of the site, a 2,760 square-foot rental facility called Oak Hammock Hall, which is great for meetings, weddings, receptions, and other special events, an Exhibit Hall highlighting the history of the Tequesta and Seminole Native Americans on Long Key and the Everglades Theater which shows a 12 minute video, Long Key: An Island in the Everglades.
Each year, photographers show their talents and win cash prizes by participating in the 2nd Annual Photo Contest sponsored by Friends of Long Key (FOLK), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to preserving the natural history of the heavily forested park and educating the community about it, hosts a Nature photo contest.
The photo competition is open to nature photographers of all ages. Some of the contest details include:
The contest will provide cash awards for “Best in Show,” 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the categories of “Scenery,” “Botanical / Plants,” “Wildlife,” and “Butterflies / Moths / Insects / Arachnids.” There will also be prices in two youth category age groups (under 13 and 13-17). Cash award values range from $10 to $125. All entered pictures must be taken within the Long Key grounds. Entries of up to four images require a small entry fee donation and will only be accepted at the Nature Center.
Entries will be accepted at the Long Key Nature Center, on April 15th, 22nd, and 29th, from 10am to 2pm.
Visit www.friendsoflongkey.com/2023-photo-contest to learn more or enter in the 5th annual Long Key Photo Contest.
