FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Paul Wingard or Pat Moore, Lee County Department of Transportation
                (941) 694-3334

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 8, 2000) – Lee County and WCI Communities Inc. are working together to place landscaping along McGregor Boulevard near WCI’s Gulf Harbour development – a public-private partnership that will further the county’s efforts to beautify local roadways.

The project, at an estimated cost of $427,000, will add trees, palms, shrubs and ground covers along McGregor from Iona Road to Griffin Boulevard. The Board of Lee County Commissioners (BOCC) is scheduled to approve a resolution Tuesday (Dec. 12) that will make way for the project.

Under the county’s Roadway Landscaping Master Plan – also known as LeeScape – the county will provide a core level of landscaping of trees and palms along the stretch for about $69,000. WCI has agreed to foot the estimated $358,000 cost of upgrading to an enhanced level of landscaping, which will include additional trees and palms, along with various shrubs, ground covers and sod. WCI also has agreed to supply the water for the irrigation system and provide the project’s maintenance on the county’s behalf.

Commissioners in October 1998 approved LeeScape after a consultant and the citizens Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee spent 11 months holding public meetings and drafting the 181-page plan. Each year, the BOCC approves a new priority list of LeeScape projects. The top two projects this coming year are College Parkway (from McGregor Boulevard to Summerlin Road) and Bonita Beach Road (from Arroyal Road to Old 41). The College Parkway project is 1.5 miles with an estimated cost of $234,790 and the Bonita Beach Road project is 1.2 miles at an estimated cost of $187,500.

The projects are ranked by the Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee based on various criteria, including type and location of road, existing landscaping, amount of traffic and ability to partner with other entities. The county completed a "demonstration" LeeScape project earlier this year along Daniels Parkway from Jetport Commerce Parkway to Chamberlin Parkway. The $310,000 landscaping included live oaks, sabal palms and East Palatka hollies and beautified an important "gateway" to Lee County through Southwest Florida International Airport.

Also completed this year were projects along Colonial Boulevard (from U.S. 41 to Evans Avenue) and Corkscrew Road (from U.S. 41 to Sandy Lane). The continuation of the Daniels Project from Jetport Commerce Parkway to Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway is in the design stage of development.

Because of concerns about the appearance of our roadways, the Board of Lee County Commissioners has committed to supporting roadway enhancement efforts and raising awareness about keeping our roadways attractive and litter free. LeeScape is part of a coordinated effort among several local organizations and programs to keep our roadways beautifully landscaped, well-maintained, and free of litter.