The new Discovery Center and Aquarium rising at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo just got a meaningful financial boost: the Richard King Mellon Foundation, based in Pittsburgh, has pledged $250,000 to the Florida State Parks Foundation to support interpretive exhibits and educational programming at the facility.
Construction on the $52 million center began after an April groundbreaking, with an expected opening in fall 2028. When finished, it will house seven aquarium tanks holding a combined 43,000 gallons of water — anchored by a 23,000-gallon centerpiece tank dedicated to Florida's Coral Reef, the only living coral barrier reef along North America's coastline. Planned features include a storm simulator showing how reefs protect coastlines, a sensory wall, interactive creature exhibits, and a digital microscope.
The park has also teamed up with Mote Marine Laboratory to carry out coral restoration and propagation work within the new facility. Mote scientists have helped restore more than 200,000 corals to Florida's reef systems, and corals grown in Pennekamp's own nurseries will be planted in surrounding marine areas.
Pennekamp already draws more than 400,000 visitors annually for diving, snorkeling, paddling, and glass-bottom boat tours, making it one of the most-visited state parks in Florida. Officials say the new center will deepen public understanding of why coral reefs matter — both ecologically and for coastal communities throughout the region.
This story was originally reported by the Florida Keys Free Press via KeysNews.com.
