A Pittsburgh-based philanthropic organization has committed $250,000 to support educational programming at the Discovery Center and Aquarium taking shape inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. The Richard King Mellon Foundation directed its pledge to the Florida State Parks Foundation, which will put the money toward interpretive experiences inside the $52 million complex.
Ground broke on the center in April, and the facility is expected to welcome its first visitors in 2028. When it opens, guests will find seven aquarium tanks holding a combined 43,000 gallons of water — including one 23,000-gallon tank dedicated to Florida's coral reef — along with a storm simulator that demonstrates how reefs shield coastlines, a sensory wall, interactive creature displays, and a digital microscope station.
The park already draws more than 400,000 visitors each year for diving, snorkeling, paddling, and glass-bottom boat tours. Its partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory adds a research dimension to the new center: corals propagated in the park's nurseries will be planted in surrounding marine areas, and Mote scientists have already helped restore more than 200,000 corals to Florida's reef systems.
Florida State Parks Foundation CEO Julia Gill Woodward said the donation will help create what she described as fresh, cutting-edge experiences for visitors exploring one of Florida's most precious natural resources. Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher echoed that the center's mission is to deepen public understanding of coral reefs' role in the region's ecosystem. The park will remain open throughout construction.
This story was originally reported by Keys News.
