This past Saturday, Miami residents sailed along the Miami River at Lummus Park Historic District to celebrate the Miami Riverday Festival.
The Miami River is known to be the oldest natural landmark in Southeast Florida, with its history dating back to the 1500s. During the 1960s and ’70s, state and local leaders called for community effort to restore the river from overwhelming pollution, leading to the formation of the Miami River Commission.
The Riverday Festival was started 27 years ago as a way for residents to explore the river’s heritage through historic tours and reenactments, while environmental education stations provide insights into the waterway’s ecosystem.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Vicki Lopez shared what the festival means to her and her hopes in educating more people about the Miami River.
“For me, it’s such a wonderful event to be able to inspire people to come celebrate the river,” she says. “A lot of people don’t realize how much garbage is thrown into the river that gets washed up on shore. So a lot of people decided they would volunteer.”
As Miami residents learn more about the historic and environmental significance of the river, the Miami River Commission hopes for more volunteers to help in its preservation.
