On August 14, 2025, partners Aaron Wilbur and Rob Cotleur joined FDOT at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new I-75 Alligator Alley Environmental Education Center. What was once a truck parking lot has been reimagined into a vibrant three-acre wetland exhibit and arboretum, offering travelers an inspiring glimpse into the beauty and complexity of the Florida Everglades.
The project welcomes visitors with plazas, shaded gathering areas, and winding boardwalks that carry guests through a functional wetland and arboretum showcasing five unique Everglades ecosystems. Along the way, educational signage, plant identification markers, and artful features including a striking 14-foot alligator sculpture and a 40-foot observation tower, invite guests to pause, learn, and take in sweeping views of the restored landscape.
More than 600 trees, 10,600 shrubs, and 17,000 aquatic plants now thrive on the site, representing 67 upland species and 13 aquatic species native to South Florida. A carefully engineered pond circulation system draws water from nearby canals and distributes it through the wetland to emulate the natural sheet flow of the Everglades. Already, this ecosystem has attracted fish, turtles, and even baby alligators, making the center not only an educational stop but a living habitat.
Beyond its environmental features, the site also offers practical amenities, including a playground, dog-walking areas, and comfortable seating giving weary motorists a chance to rest and recharge in a setting unlike any other along the interstate.
FDOT has called this one of the most innovative and challenging projects it has ever completed. With construction set to be fully complete in September 2025 and a three-year establishment period already in place, the Environmental Education Center is designed to endure. Ultimately, it will be maintained by the Department in perpetuity, ensuring that this groundbreaking project continues to educate, inspire, and restore for generations to come.
