Marinelife Center Makeover

By County Commissioner Karen T. Marcus - District 1

Did you know that there is a fascinating and expanding resource in north county? You may have heard that sick or injured sea turtles and hatchlings are sent for rehabilitation “somewhere” in Palm Beach County. The Marinelife Center of Juno Beach has been operating in the County’s Loggerhead Park, on the oceanfront just north of Donald Ross Road, since 1984. Long known as “the turtle place,” the Center appeals to both young and old and is a frequent stop for residents who are entertaining guests and want to show them some of the County’s highlights. Each year the Center hosts approximately 11,000 students who come on educational tours to learn all about endangered loggerhead sea turtles and our coastal ecosystem.

In 2002, the countywide $50 million bond referendum was passed by voters for the purpose of constructing or improving recreational, arts and cultural projects throughout the County. When the bond passed, I recommended that the Center receive $1.5 million toward its refurbishment and expansion since the Center had outgrown its existing space. Now the Center is nearly finished with its $6 million expansion and has raised several thousand dollars with sponsorships and fund-raising events.

The new “campus” will include four buildings with 12,000 sq. ft. An indoor exhibit will feature four aquariums and an interactive exhibit that starts with a single drop of water that flows on a journey down the Loxahatchee River. Outside there will be a tank to hold 20 sea turtles and a windowed tank for observing several species of sharks. In the “touch and feel” tank, volunteers will encourage visitors to touch marine creatures such as sting rays, seastars and hermit crabs. For those wishing to take home a memento, there will be a gift shop of marine-themed gifts. Of course there will be a veterinary hospital for sick or injured turtles and some of the “patients” can be viewed in the rehabilitation yard.

The entire Center will be the first public facility in the state to pursue the “Green Building Certification” as defined by the Florida Green Building Coalition. This designation means that the construction is environmentally friendly.

Construction is moving along and it is hoped that the Center will be fully operational by December of this year. With only a staff of seven, the Center is always looking for volunteers. For more information, call the Center at 627-8280 or visit them online at www.marinelife.org.

As always, if you want to contact me, please call my office at 355-2201 or email me at kmarcus@pbcgov.com.

# # #