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County Commissioners Rename Park for Retiring Park Director
Sep 9, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lee County Commissioners Rename Park for Retiring Director Fort Myers, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 - Lee County Commissioners renamed Ten Mile Linear Park in honor of longtime retiring Lee Parks & Recreation Director John Yarbrough at the board meeting today. The park now will be called John Yarbrough Linear Park. Yarbrough has been with Lee County Parks & Recreation for 29 years, nearly 20 of which he headed the department. September 15 will be his last day overseeing 260 employees, a $33 million budget and more than 100 parks, preserves, facilities and other sites. Commissioners praised him for his visionary leadership and dedication, and credited him with leaving a legacy of diverse offerings for residents, snowbirds and tourists. Ten Mile Linear Park, which saw its first segment open in 2005, is an example of his vision, they said. The park is a slender green space with paths for skating, bicycling, running, dog-walking and picnicking that parallels Fort Myers' Ten Mile Canal near Metro Avenue. The completed portions of the park now comprise about six miles and when finished, it will extend from Colonial Boulevard to Mullock Creek in the Jamaica Bay area. It's considered a recreational gem in a fast-growing urban area that serves many different types of park users. The long-term plan is to connect it from the Charlotte County line to the Collier County line. John Yarbrough Linear Park signs will be posted soon. Park hours are sunrise to sunset daily. For more information, visit www.leeparks.org or call (239) 432-2034.
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