ALVA, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will offer free tours of the W. P. Franklin Lock and Dam on the Okeechobee Waterway in Alva through March.
The 45-minute tour begins with a presentation at the Visitor Center, followed by a narrated visit to the lock. Visitors can learn more about the Corps and its water management systems. Tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. Group tours are also available by appointment Monday through Friday.
Both the indoor and outdoor portions of the tour are handicap accessible.
Visitors are encouraged to sign up for tours in advance. For more information and to sign up for a tour, call the W. P. Franklin Visitor Center at 239-694-2582.
The Visitor Center is open daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and offers interactive hands-on displays.
The W. P. Franklin Recreation Area features picnic areas, is located at 1660 South Franklin Lock Road, Alva, Florida, and is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
For more information on the lock and dam, visit:
http://bit.ly/WPFLOCK
To learn about recreational opportunities at Corps facilities on the Okeechobee Waterway, visit:
http://1.usa.gov/1cmNXQK
Release no. 16-006