The Homestead National Parks Trolley project, a joint venture to increase visitorship to area National Parks and Historic Downtown Homestead, received the highest honors for marketing excellence at a recent Special Council Presentation in October 2014. The Homestead National Parks Trolley project is a partnership between the City of Homestead, Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and was spearheaded by Vice Mayor Stephen R. Shelley.
The National City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) awarded the project three Savvy Awards, the highest honor possible, and a third place nod for “Excellence in Marketing Tools.” The first place honors were for “Community Visioning,” “Most Innovative Program” and “Graphic Design Art.” Homestead featured prominently in an annual contest that receives hundreds of entries from municipal governments from all over the country.
“I feel so honored and blessed to work shoulder to shoulder with such a devoted, bright group of people,” said Vice Mayor Shelley. “Accomplishing this from the planning stages to a fully executed idea would not have been possible were it not for the concerted efforts of the people assembled here today. This one’s for all of us!”
The marketing campaign was managed and originated by the City’s Public Information Officer Begoñe Cazalis with the help of Everglades and Biscayne National Parks staff and creative agency Multi Media Marketing Associates, Inc. The project was a team effort that also included help from a group of committed partnering organizations such as the Homestead Historic Preservation Board and the Center for Urban Transportation Research from University of South Florida. The 3CMA judges said about the program: “This is a fantastic program that exemplifies the use of partnerships, creative ‘out-of-the-box’ visioning and the ability to successfully meet goals and objectives through a communications outreach and marketing plan. Great project and great work that shows economic development and great initiative to bring tourists to the historic downtown.”