Contact: Jim Lavender, Lee County Construction & Design

(941) 479-8301

NEW ESTERO PARK A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN COUNTY/SCHOOL DISTRICT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 5, 2000) – Lee County Government and the School District will begin construction Wednesday (April 12) on two new athletic fields in Estero that are the first phase of a planned 65-acre community park.

The 10-acre site – just west of Estero High School on Williams Road – will have two, lighted football/soccer fields, a concession/restroom facility, and a parking lot. The $1.5-million construction cost is being paid with community park impact fees collected from the surrounding area. Eventually, the project will expand north toward Corkscrew Road and become the 65-acre Estero/Bonita Springs Community Park.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 2 p.m. at the Estero High School bus parking lot, 9100 Williams Road.

The creation and development of this park is the result of a unique partnership between the Board of Lee County Commissioners, the School Board and private concerns. The county paid for $300,000 of improvements to school district athletic facilities in return for which the school district deeded over to the county the land needed for the park.

In addition, the county and school district collaborated on the utility systems serving both the park and Estero High School. The county granted easements through the park for utility lines and each party paid a pro-rata share of the construction costs.

And Jon Spiegel deeded the northeast portion of his Golfcoast Driving Range property to the county. Speigel’s generous gift provides access to the park from Williams Road.

When finished, the Estero Mustangs Pop Warner Football program will be the primary user of the new athletic fields. This program, which continues to grow, serves about 400 children from Bonita Springs, Estero and San Carlos Park. The new facility will enable the league to accommodate many more children in its football and cheerleading programs.