South Florida

Nearly 3 Million Visit South Florida National Parks in 2014

The National Park Service says almost 3 million visitors to South Florida's national parks generated over $231 million for the local economy last year.

Federal officials say over 1.1 million people visited Everglades National Park, spending over $104 million in nearby communities. Over half a million people visited Biscayne National Park, spending over $32 million.

Dry Tortugas National Park had over 64,000 visitors who spent over $3 million in the Florida Keys and other South Florida communities. The Big Cypress National Preserve saw over a 1.1 million visitors who spent over $91 million.

According to the park service, visitors to South Florida's national parks supported 3,380 jobs. Across the country, visitors to national parks spent $15.7 billion in local communities on lodging, food, gasoline, park fees and souvenirs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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