Have you seen the Florida Bay Forever license plates?
Florida National Parks Association, a nonprofit established in 1951, worked to get the Florida Bay Forever tags approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Oct. 1, 2020. However, COVID-19 created a challenge in getting the word out, and DeSantis extended new tags additional time for their first run to Oct. 1, 2024.
To get the initiative off the ground quicker, the Florida National Parks Association board decided to cover 100% of the costs of the first 3,000 plates.
Jim Sutton, former executive director of the Florida National Parks Association, spearheaded this project and was instrumental in overseeing the initiative’s progress. The Florida National Parks Association came to Sutton and said, “Have you ever thought about creating a specialty tag?” They returned a few months later and decided to move forward.
Photographer Robert L. Chaplin, who is also on the board of directors, was asked if his art could be used as a fundraiser for Everglades National Park as a Florida license tag specialty plate. Without hesitation, his answer was “yes,” and he donated his art and designed the tag.
“I was in the Everglades National Park to photograph a sunrise when I noticed a classic Florida Bay fishing scene,” Chaplin said. “With a little patience, timing and luck, I was able to capture the angler mid-cast with the birds flying through the scene. The tag is a great way to show support and contribute to Everglades National Park. The public’s support of the tag goes a long way, collectively, to support the park’s education, scientific, conservation, and other missions.”
Stephen Shelley and Holly Raschein, former state representative, worked with Sutton on getting the plate printed. It took almost six years to get final approval in Tallahassee.
“Florida Bay Forever tags are a conservation effort to make the Florida Bay healthier than what it is,” Sutton said. “It is either an office for our neighbors or a backyard where we tend to play. We need to keep it healthy and enjoy it.”
Sutton, along with his daughter, Carlee Vazquez, social media and marketing specialist, and a team of volunteers have been attending local festivals to register people for the free tags. Almost half have been taken so far, and they estimate the initial 3,000 will be claimed by summer.
After the first year, the cost for the tag is $25 annually in addition to regular state fees. The Florida Bay Forever crews have signed people up at several Keys events, including Marathon Seafood Festival, Gigantic Nautical Flea Market and more recently, the races in Sebring.
“Once they get on the road, they will sell themselves,” Sutton said. “The plate design is beautiful, and the cause is essential for the bay.”
“It’s fun to be part of this project because we get to meet a lot of cool people, elected officials, business owners and others who care about the health of the Everglades and the Florida Bay,” Vazquez said. “I have a lot of memories with my grandparents in the Everglades and with my family in the bay, and I want my kid’s kids to be able to make memories there, too and for that to happen, we need to do our part to help restore and protect the parks.”
Florida National Parks Association, in partnership, owns and operates gift shops within the visitor centers at Big Cypress National Preserve and Biscayne, Dry Tortugas and Everglades national parks.
Sutton said that they have also started up institutes, offering over 70 programs, and those proceeds go back to the national parks as well. The programs vary by location, but some may include snorkeling, kayaking and camping.
Florida Bay Forever, located in Islamorada, is a separate nonprofit organization. “We have the same end goal in mind, work closely together and support each other,” Sutton said.
Once proceeds from Florida National Parks Association have been accumulated for the parks, the money is put in a restricted account. The executive director, Jessica Pierce, will then submit proposals to the board and review the priority and costs. The 21 board members from three counties – Collier, Miami Dade and Monroe – will vote on how to use the money.
“I think the plates are important because the proceeds from the renewal will be used to clean up our Florida Bay by removing non-nautical items from the water, provide educational opportunities to the community like teaching youth fly fishing classes, not to mention seagrass restoration, which is already taking place,” Vazquez said.
People can register for a Florida Bay Forever plate at www.floridabayforever.com. When you register, you get a voucher; once registrations hit 3,000, the plates are made and shipped. More information is at floridanationalparksassociation.org.
