What's New
Residents, snowbirds and visitors will discover upgrades and additions to the places they’ve come to love and know and also can now explore some new sites.
Here’s a round up of what’s new at your Lee County parks, preserves and facilities:
Parks Director retires: Department Director John Yabrough, a 29-year veteran of Lee County Parks & Recreation, retires. He leaves a legacy of diverse offerings — and something for everyone, be they a resident, a snowbird or a tourist. Read more HERE.
Going green: An 11,000-square-foot Interpretive Center opened to the public in April and has already become a gem in the parks community. The center is a “green building,” built under the nationally recognized Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification system. The certification recognizes five areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, proper materials and indoor environmental air quality.
All kinds of aspects of the building contribute to its green certification. For example, the ceiling is made of bamboo, which is a rapidly renewable resource, and rainwater collected from the roof is used to flush toilets.
The $3.5 million Interpretive Center is expected to broaden the kinds of visitors who come to the slough, which consists of a boardwalk through a fragile 2,500-acre eco-system. This is the site’s first building, and it has a display area, a multipurpose room for educational programs, a covered teaching deck and more. For more information, go online to www.LeeParks.org or call Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve at (239) 432-2004.
Getting wet: Two new water features opened during spring. A 4,000-square-foot water feature is now at Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers. The 3,800-gallon water feature has something for everyone. There are misting palm trees, a cool bench and dew drop umbrella, a ship’s mast, two water cannons, a large water arch and a small water arch, two foam geysers, two mini popcorn jets, and one large popcorn jet. The deck is surrounded by a four-foot high fence for the children’s protection and is fully automated with strike guard lighting protection. Equally exciting is the water feature that opened at Lehigh Acre’s Veterans Community Park. For information on both places, go to www.leeparks.org
Boaters’ amenity: New day docks are open at Bowditch Point Regional Preserve at Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island. The docks are on the bayside of the island’s northern tip, just outside the marked channel in a slow speed zone. Boaters can arrive and dock between 8 a.m. and a half hour past sunset. This is the first time Bowditch has been accessible to boaters who want to leave their vessels and enjoy the 17-acre park and preserve. Call (239) 765-6794. Or go online to www.leeparks.org. Please note: Fishing is not permitted from the docks.
Causeway update: Now that the new causeway construction is completed, maintenance and minor work is all that’s left to be done. The new restroom is open on Island B, and the old restroom there has been remodeled. Landscaping improvements are on the way.
Miles of walking: Ten Mile Linear Park (now John Yarbrough Linear Park) has gotten longer. Phase 3 – the stretch between Colonial Boulevard and Crystal Drive – opened in late spring. The slender park opened in late 2005 as a sliver of green through increasingly urban Fort Myers. It now exists parallel to Ten Mile Canal (roughly between U.S. 41 and Metro Parkway) from Colonial Boulevard to Daniels Parkway. Shade shelters and other amenities complement the paved trail. Dogs are permitted on leashes. Skaters, walkers, runners and cyclists are welcome. Go to www.leeparks.org or call (239) 432-2034.
Wi-Fi in parks: Lee Parks have gone high-tech with free Wi-Fi. Bring your laptop and check your e-mail, do your homework, finish that project for work, or just surf the Internet in the beauty and peacefulness of a natural park setting. Lee County Parks & Recreation now offers free Wireless Internet Access at several of its facilities using the popular Wi-Fi technology employed in home networks and coffee shops. High-Speed DSL connections are now available to laptops, PDAs, and other internet-ready devices for those who have no internet access or, simply, individuals who enjoy some fun in the sun. To use the wireless network, you will need a laptop or handheld device with an 802.11b/g compatible wireless card or built in 802.11b/g wireless capability.
For more information on Lee County Parks and Recreation’s Free Wi-Fi Hotspots call ( 239) 533-7275, or to view a map of the coverage areas visit www.leeparks.org and click on “Free Wi-Fi Spots.”
Remodeling and refurbishing. Olga, a historic community between Fort Myers and Alva is getting its historic due. The community center here that Parks & Recreation owns and manages is a designated historic site and the building is being refurbished. Also getting spiffed up: Boca Grande’s Crownin Shield House. Included in this refurbishing effort is a plan to make the entire building ADA accessible.
New center for trains: The Railroad Interpretive Center opened this summer at Lakes Regional Park. The new display space – some 3,000 square feet – not only houses items for train enthusiasts, it also offers air-conditioned meeting space for park patrons. Call (239) 432-2034.
Lakes Park addition for playtime: Also new at Lakes Regional Park is a playground that replaces the former one adjacent to the railroad in the park. The park now boasts the largest playground in Lee County. Ribbon cutting for the new play area is set for August. Watch for details at www.leeparks.org
Another playground opens: Karl J. Drews Community Center now has a totally ADA-inclusive playground that replaced an older one that was less accessible. This playground is larger and has a synthetic grass-like, cushioned surface that offers safety and accessibility for people who use wheelchairs. Call (239) 267-2181 or e-mail Amanda Gutierrez Here.
Wa-Ke Hatchee ball: A covered, lighted basketball pavilion will be open by the time the 2008-09 school year starts. The project is a joint effort between Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Lee County School District, which will share the new amenity to the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center at Lexington Middle School. The pavilion will be used not only for basketball but also for programs and one other much-needed thing: a shady place during summer camp. Call (239) 432-2154 or go to www.leeparks.org
North Fort Myers preserve: The Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve opened in May in North Fort Myers. It straddles Interstate 75 and offers remote woods and meandering waterways. Visit it for hiking (both trails and boardwalks exist), bird watching, nature study/photography and kayaking. A primitive launch site offers access to the Caloosahatchee and the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail. Enjoy picnic shelters and tables. Enjoy the Old Florida feel. There are more than 1,200 acres of it to be had. Get more information at www.conservation2020.org or call (239) 533-7275.
Bokeelia Boat Ramp: The cottages and other amenities at the county-owned Bokeelia Boat Ramp are now open for business. Improvements are still planned for the ramp itself. Check it out at www.leeparks.org or at the Web site of the business that is managing the facility for Lee County, www.tropicstarcruises.com. The offerings include efficiency cottages located on the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail with rentals, boat ramp, dock and quick access to Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor.
Please Note: Lee County Parks and Recreation parking decals issued after July 31, 2008 will not be valid for parking in the Captiva Island North Lot (Alison Hagerup Beach Park). Visitors parking in this lot will be required to pay the hourly rate.