Home Introduction Physical Setting Urbanization Natural Hazards Mineral Resources Water System Environmental Quality Outdoor Recreation Everglades N.P. - Wildlife Resources - Drainage - Wildfires & Burnings - Park Concerns > Visitors Coastal Zone Fish & Wildlife Miccosukee Indians Conclusion References

As available open spaces and natural vistas are utilized for urban development, the need for and the value of Everglades National Park increases. The number of visitors to the park is increasing faster proportionally than both the National and State populations. In part, this reflects a change in how people spend their leisure time. More people have longer vacations and can afford a season's trip to Florida. More people own cars, campers, trailers, boats, and camping equipment. With increasing urbanization, people value the opportunity to escape to the backcountry. All this means more visitors to Everglades National Park.

More visitors mean more crowded parking lots and roads, crowded tours and campgrounds. Although pressure is constantly on the park to increase its visitor facilities, there is a limit to what the park can provide without jeopardizing its wildlife and natural beauty. Perhaps the park will have to limit the number of vehicles and people admitted at one time.

Once the roads and parking lots are paved, campgrounds and picnic areas built, and boating channels and canals dug, it is almost impossible to regain that piece of wilderness. This fact poses another question: What is the proper mixture of playground and natural preserve? To preserve a viable balance between recreation area and wilderness, careful planning is needed. Also needed is thorough understanding of the natural systems and rhythms that should guide this planning.

As the increasing U.S. population becomes more mobile, with greater leisure time, visitation to Everglades National Park grows. [click on the above graph and photo to view larger versions]

The number of fishermen in Everglades National Park increased greatly between 1960 and 1970. Two out of every five people who enter the park are fishermen. [larger image]

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