Athalie Edwards, Executive Director, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park

Invest: spoke with Athalie Edwards about how Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is expanding its cultural and ecological impact as it enters a new chapter. With rising visitation, stronger partnerships, and a museum nearing its building phase, the park is deepening its role as both a historic landmark and natural preserve. “We’ve partnered with over 80 organizations and also have mobilized over 3,000 volunteers to maintain the park shoreline to make sure that we survive to continue to tell our story and our mission,” she said.

Over the last 12 to 18 months, how would you describe the overall contribution and impact of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in the Miami area?

Over the past year, our impact has grown in meaningful ways. We celebrated our 80th anniversary, which brought together three generations of visitors — grandparents, parents and grandchildren — who wanted to pass down the importance of Historic Virginia Key Beach to Miami’s culture. That multigenerational connection is central to our mission.

Our contribution spans arts, history, and ecology. We offer historical tours that highlight the park’s role in civil rights and Black history, and we provide access to three ecosystems in one place. It’s a unique setting where visitors can learn, reflect, and experience preserved shoreline, strengthening our role as a cultural and environmental anchor for Miami and South Florida.

What were some of the most significant changes you saw over the past year in visitation, programming and community engagement, and how did they shape the park’s direction?

Engagement has increased significantly. As we get closer to breaking ground on the museum, people are paying much more attention to what’s happening at the park. We’ve been working closely with Miami-Dade County to finalize the necessary details, and the community has been eager to stay informed.

This year’s theme, “From coastlines to communities, a legacy in the sand,” guided us in expanding our outreach through press coverage and civic engagement. We hosted events such as the Juneteenth Beach Bash, a business link-up during Business Month, and ongoing beach cleanups that keep awareness high. These initiatives have shaped a direction rooted in education, culture, and year-round community connection.

How are these efforts influencing the park’s role within Miami’s broader tourism and events ecosystem?

Our role in Miami’s tourism landscape has strengthened considerably. We partner closely with regional tourism organizations and participate in their events to ensure Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is part of the broader visitor experience.

We also host travel industry tours so agencies and tourism partners can understand the park’s history and natural assets. Heritage tourism is another growing area — Miami-Dade County’s Black history tours now bring residents and visitors to sites across the city, including our park, and those programs are gaining real traction.

Additionally, our festivals, cultural events, and national media coverage in outlets like Essence, People, and the Miami Herald have elevated our profile, positioning the park as both a historic destination and a meaningful cultural asset.

What are your priorities around protecting the park’s ecosystems while keeping them accessible to the public?

As a natural preserve, our stewardship responsibilities are significant. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park has three distinct ecosystems, and because we’re on the critical beach list, restoration and resilience work is ongoing.

We partner with organizations like Tremendous to remove invasive species and plant native ones. We collaborate with waterkeepers on beach cleanups and with Miami-Dade County departments that conduct studies and identify ways to protect our natural systems. We also work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on potential replanting or re-engineering initiatives.

We’ve partnered with over 80 organizations and also have mobilized over 3,000 volunteers to maintain the park shoreline to make sure that we survive to continue to tell our story and our mission. Together, these partnerships allow us to balance accessibility with long-term ecological protection.

As you move into the museum’s building phase, what are the key focuses to ensure it delivers both cultural and operational impact?

This next phase is centered on fundraising and long-term sustainability. We’ve secured capital funding for the construction of the museum through Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Affairs Division and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office, with the City of Miami ensuring operational support for at least the first decade.

Preparing to open the museum means raising funds not just for the building itself, but for exhibits, educational materials, staffing, and daily operations. We also participated in Give Miami Day to help advance this effort. These steps will allow us to open a museum that honors the history of the Black Beach and serves the community while operating on a strong financial foundation.

Beyond the museum, what investments in infrastructure, staff or programming are you prioritizing to support the park’s long-term sustainability?

Infrastructure is a major priority, especially given challenges like localized flooding and sea level rise. We’re working to upgrade amenities, strengthen resilience, and ensure facilities can support both everyday visitors and major events. Naming rights and sponsorships will play an important role in helping fund these investments.

Our top priority remains the successful operation of the museum, but we’re equally focused on enhancing the natural and cultural assets that define the park.

Looking three to five years ahead, what do you see as the most critical priorities that will define the park’s next chapter?

Funding is the central priority — funding, funding, funding. Sustained support will determine the long-term maintenance of the park, the resilience of our infrastructure, and the successful opening and operation of the museum.

Our goal is to secure the resources needed to preserve the park’s history, protect its ecosystems, and ensure the museum thrives well into the future.

What is the importance of partnership and collaboration for Historic Virginia Key Beach Park?

We’re actively seeking sponsors and partners across many different fields. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is 82.5 acres of natural preserves, and we welcome collaboration with schools, NGOs, scientists, cultural organizations, and businesses.

We work with partners like NOAA and the University of Miami, who tag crocodiles at the park, and with Miami-Dade County teams studying water clarity, sea level rise, and ecosystems. It’s inspiring to see all this work happening in one place.

Personally, this park brings together everything I love — science, history, arts, and culture. After more than a decade in government, this is the role where I feel most aligned with my purpose. Our staff and partners share that dedication, and we’re all committed to ensuring that the park continues telling its story for generations to come.