Bill Nelson: “I am proud to introduce the Virginia Key Beach Resource Study Bill. Congresswoman Carrie Meek has introduced the…”

“I am proud to introduce the Virginia Key Beach Resource Study Bill. Congresswoman Carrie Meek has introduced the companion to this legislation in the House of Representatives. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Interior to conduct a special resource study of Virginia Key Beach, FL, for inclusion in the National Park System. Based solely on its natural attributes, Virginia Key is worthy of inclusion. Situated just off the mainland of the City of Miami, between Key Biscayne to the south and Fisher Island to the north, Virginia Key is a 1,000-acre barrier island, characterized by a unique and sensitive natural environment. The island is non-residential and includes ponds and waterways, a tropical hardwood hammock and a large wildlife conservation area. Virginia Key Beach deserves national distinction for another reason. Its unique history teaches us about our Nation's progress toward achieving racial justice. For decades in South Florida, beaches were segregated by race. As the only beach in Miami that permitted blacks from the 1940s to the 1960s, Virginia Key was a source of seaside recreation for countless African-American families. Virginia Key also was the site for many baptisms and religious services. Thus, Virginia Key's value to our Nation, and to Florida, should be recognized both for its natural beauty and its role in the Nation's ongoing struggle for equality and social justice.”