"Site Presented by The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce." Design & Hosting donated by CNI Contact Info: 772-589-5969 Email Us Copyright 2006: All photos are the property of the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photos Taken By: Wendell Metzen and George Nelson.   Go to Photo Gallery The Centennial Trail is a fitting tribute to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. On March 15th, 2003, visitors enjoyed their first chance to walk the boardwalk, and gaze at the natural splendor of wildlife that surrounds the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge's Centennial Trail. Pelican Island's Centennial Trail, itself, also symbolizes, "Coming Home Again". As you begin your walk on the boardwalk, you will see the planks that represent our nation's most recent National Wildlife Refuges, where they are, and the fact that they were dedicated in 2002. As the boardwalk winds its way, both up and toward The Indian River Lagoon, you are literally walking back in time, past every National Wildlife Refuge plank, that features each location, and its dedication year. Note the photos featured here show The Centennial Trail under construction. National Wildlife Refuge Employees from all over The United States and Puerto Rico volunteered their time to be a part of the Centennial Celebration and this unique public facility. They constructed the entire Centennial Trail Boardwalk. The last plank before the observation tower platform, some eighteen feet above land, will feature Pelican Island NWR, dedicated on March 14th, 1903. It marks the, "Coming Home" of yourself to America's first National Wildlife Refuge, and on March 14th, 2003 marked the, "Coming Home" of our entire nation's National Wildlife System to where it all started one hundred years prior to that date. "Home" also symbolizes the source of much of the funding for The Centennial Trail Visitors Complex. Contributing over 6 million dollars over the past ten years, Indian River County's involvement in this wonderful facility included the purchase of two wetland tracts, a 130-acre-plus upland hammock/wetland tract with a large archaeological site, as well as construction of the two public facilities areas, including the restroom, parking lots, signage, and the trailheads. In addition, the county has been heavily involved in the restoration programs, underwrote the Kroegel Statue in Sebastian's Riverview Park, and has helped to acquire a portion of The Kroegel Homestead land. And, the entire Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, which includes Pelican Island, has benefited greatly over the past eight years from more than 20 million dollars of funds secured through the efforts of United States Congressman, Dave Weldon. There are so many people that need to be thanked for their efforts to create this facility, but just one needs to be immortalized. Take a moment when you first get to the final platform on the boardwalk and gaze out over Pelican Island to give thanks to the one man who truly symbolized the words, "One Man Can Make A Difference!" That man was Paul Kroegel!     History | Renourishment | Centennial Celebration | Centennial Trail | Visitor Info | Links | Media | Home