Email from: February 8, 2018
SAVE BUTTERFLY WORLD!
To our Members and Friends,
On March 28, 2018, Butterfly World will mark its 30th Anniversary! We couldn't have done it without you, and now, we need your help!
It was 1986, when the Broward County Parks Department invited Butterfly World to build within Tradewinds Park.
Leasing ONLY the land from Broward County, Butterfly World filled the site, constructed the aviaries, ponds, lake, buildings and pathways, expanded continually, and has maintained and managed the facility completely with private funds as well as your admission fees and gift and plant sales . The following years have brought the wonder of butterflies to generations of South Florida residents and the world!
As we mark this milestone, we also come to the end of the land lease that made Butterfly World possible. Although we have been engaged in negotiations with the Broward County Parks Department for years seeking a renewal, unfortunately, we must report to you that we are at an impasse in these negotiations due to substantially increased financial terms and conditions that we cannot approve.
Butterfly World has never taken public funds, and has in fact, invested heavily in park improvements, as well as generated millions for Broward County in paid park fees, promotions and tourism. To us, it is more important to maintain our culture of excellent service and responsible stewardship, investing funds back into the park to expand and improve every year, than to continue in a diminished capacity and disappoint you, our customers and friends.
Without a renewed lease,
Butterfly World may not be able to continue operations.
We have been advised that the Broward County Commission will discuss the Butterfly World lease negotiations on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at 10 am in the Broward County Governmental Center (115 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale).
Please be there to show your support! RSVP to the meeting below, as we will be providing "I Love Butterfly World" T-shirts to attendees!
Also, a short email from you to the Broward County Commissioners (email addresses below), expressing not only your strong support for Butterfly World, but that the new lease be financially viable to allow Butterfly World to continue to improve, expand and give back to the community, whether that be through the thousands of school children who visit every year, or the multitude of charitable organizations that we support with our facility.
Having the Commissioners hear from you is instrumental in securing our future for years to come.
No matter what the future holds, we have loved providing 30 years of wonder, and we are grateful to you for making it possible!
Thank YOU!
Everyone at Butterfly World
