Did you know that Florida’s first State Park was created by a group of women who didn’t even have the right to vote?
In 1914, May Mann Jennings, president of the Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs, took on the preservation of part of the Everglades as a conservation project. Her targeted area was Paradise Key and Royal Palm Hammock, southwest of what would later be known as Florida City.
The land was revered for its botanical diversity and was a spectacular hammock hidden amongst the glades. During this time, Henry Flagler owned much of the land and was building his railroad throughout eastern Florida. Scientists began calling for Paradise Key to be set aside as a state park to avoid it being thrust into Flagler’s development area.
May Mann was able to travel around Florida and mobilize women everywhere to support her project. She encouraged the establishment of Woman’s Clubs in Homestead, Princeton, Redland, Larkins and Longview with the express purpose of moving the park project along and getting a road built to the Hammock.
Together, Mary and the women convinced the State of Florida to donate 960 acres, which was matched by a donation of 960 acres by the widow of Florida East Coast Railway magnate Henry Flagler, thanks in part to James E. Ingraham—the Flaglers’ land manager and a man important to local folks.
The dedication of Florida’s first state park, Royal Palm State Park at Paradise Key, took place on November 23, 1916. The women of the FFWC operated the park until 1947 when they donated it to the federal government as the nucleus of Everglades National Park.
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