How Part of the Atlantic Ocean Became a State Park- May Delicate Balance of Nature
May 18 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
“How Part of the Atlantic Ocean Became a State Park,” will be delivered by Elena Muratori, Park Services Specialist at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Our reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84127680116
While the idea to preserve the coral reefs offshore of south Florida dates back to the time of Everglades National Park’s conception, it did not become a reality until President Eisenhower’s era. Muratori will present an engaging history of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, along with some present-day changes.
Celebrating 30 years with the Florida Park Service this month, Elena Muratori has worked at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for 25 of those years. A Florida Park Services Specialist, Elena grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. She graduated from Florida’s New College as an environmental studies major, working as a reference librarian to pay for her education. Elena also earned an M.S. degree in counseling psychology at Florida State University. A former paralegal for a civil rights law firm, she helped manage a food co-op and health food store and was a paid peace and justice activist. As an activist, she learned how to manage and motivate volunteers — a useful skill since she oversees volunteers in her park service job. After frequent long weekend drives to Key Largo to snorkel and dive, Elena moved to Miami’s Coconut Grove from northern Florida and volunteered at the Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove. She was hired there, and later as a state park ranger at Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. Elena’s Keys community activities have included steering Pennekamp’s 50th birthday celebration in 2010 and advising Coral Shores High School’s Student Peace Alliance, supporting students to get Monroe County parks designated as “peace parks” with plaques throughout the Keys. She hopes to always communicate by example the importance of caring for each other and the environment where we live. If we humans can understand that we are part of this ecosystem — not separate from it — and that everything we do has an effect, that would be world-changing.
Our reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84127680116
“How Part of the Atlantic Ocean Became a State Park,” will be delivered by Elena Muratori, Park Services Specialist at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Our reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84127680116
While the idea to preserve the coral reefs offshore of south Florida dates back to the time of Everglades National Park’s conception, it did not become a reality until President Eisenhower’s era. Muratori will present an engaging history of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, along with some present-day changes.
Celebrating 30 years with the Florida Park Service this month, Elena Muratori has worked at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for 25 of those years. A Florida Park Services Specialist, Elena grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. She graduated from Florida’s New College as an environmental studies major, working as a reference librarian to pay for her education. Elena also earned an M.S. degree in counseling psychology at Florida State University. A former paralegal for a civil rights law firm, she helped manage a food co-op and health food store and was a paid peace and justice activist. As an activist, she learned how to manage and motivate volunteers — a useful skill since she oversees volunteers in her park service job. After frequent long weekend drives to Key Largo to snorkel and dive, Elena moved to Miami’s Coconut Grove from northern Florida and volunteered at the Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove. She was hired there, and later as a state park ranger at Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. Elena’s Keys community activities have included steering Pennekamp’s 50th birthday celebration in 2010 and advising Coral Shores High School’s Student Peace Alliance, supporting students to get Monroe County parks designated as “peace parks” with plaques throughout the Keys. She hopes to always communicate by example the importance of caring for each other and the environment where we live. If we humans can understand that we are part of this ecosystem — not separate from it — and that everything we do has an effect, that would be world-changing.
Our reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84127680116
Details
Venue
Key Largo, FL 33037 United States + Google Map