MARCH IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY for residents and visitors to enjoy the colorful poetry banners that have been hanging in Losner Park since January. The month of April was designated National Poetry Month, and the City of Homestead, alongside its new gateway partner, Everglades National Park, have joined forces to celebrate this art form with this special installation of poetry inspired by our River of Grass (The Everglades.). These pieces are the contributions of writers and poets from the organization known as AIRE. AIRIE or Artist-In-Residence-In-Everglades, brings artists, writers, composers and choreographers to Everglades National Park for month-long residencies in the subtropical wilderness.
In the interim, visitors can enjoy the poetry while they wait to board the Homestead National Parks Trolley and then see for themselves the natural beauty that served as inspiration. Trolleys to Everglades and Biscayne National Parks depart from Losner Park every weekend through April, and are accompanied by expert narration from a park ranger. The guided trolley ride is free and includes waived admission to the parks. Never before have the natural treasures of the Everglades been more within reach! This auspicious program has attracted many people near and far, since its inception last January , but will come to a temporary end over the last Sunday in April. Those that have not yet hopped aboard the trolley to the National Parks are highly encouraged to do so in the coming months.
“This is yet another wonderful program that strengthens the partnership between Homestead and one of its neighboring National Parks,” said Vice-Mayor Stephen R. Shelley, who coordinated bringing the poetry exhibit to Losner Park and led the efforts to create the Homestead National Parks Trolley. “We want to inspire our residents to visit the Everglades as well as offer visitors who are at the park to catch the Homestead National Parks Trolley a glimpse of what they are going to see.”
During the month of April, the entire set of poetry banners can be seen on some of the trails that wind through Everglades National Park. For more information about Everglades National Park, including ranger-led activities, please visit www.nps.gov/ever or visit www.cityofhomestead.com/gateway for information on the Homestead National Parks Trolley. For more about the Artist-In-Residence-In-Everglades program, visit www.airie.org.
