John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo — long celebrated as the first underwater park in the United States — is set to welcome a major new attraction: a Discovery Center and Aquarium that will bring Florida's underwater world above the surface for visitors of all ages.
The centerpiece of the facility will be a 23,000-gallon tank dedicated to Florida's Coral Reef, the only living coral barrier reef along the coast of North America. In total, the aquarium will feature seven tanks holding a combined 43,000 gallons.
A rendering released alongside the announcement offers a striking look at the planned interior exhibit space, giving a sense of just how immersive the new visitor experience is expected to be.
The addition would mark a significant evolution for Pennekamp, a park that has drawn snorkelers, divers, and glass-bottom boat riders to the Upper Keys for decades. An on-site aquarium could make the reef's remarkable ecosystem accessible to those who prefer to stay dry.
This rendering and project details were reported by the Keys Citizen.
