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County Purchases Two-Acre Site in Bokeelia for Boat Ramp
Feb 15, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jim Lavender, Lee County Public Works LEE COUNTY PURCHASES TWO-ACRE SITE IN BOKEELIA FOR BOAT RAMP FORT MYERS, FL (February 15, 2005) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today unanimously approved purchasing a two-acre site in Bokeelia on Pine Island for a public boat ramp - an action that will increase badly needed water access for recreational boaters. The purchase price is $3 million. The property - an existing marina with one boat ramp lane - is on Barrancas Avenue at the northwest tip of Pine Island with direct access to Pine Island Sound. The sellers are Paul and Louise Gladding. "This is a rare opportunity," said Jim Lavender, Lee County Public Works Director. "Sites with water access that are affordable for government are extremely rare." The Gladdings contacted Lee County with the purchase proposal, saying they wanted to sell to government and do something good for the community. The ramp will be used for recreational, not commercial, purposes. Lee County is in dire need of more boat ramps. There are 47,000 registered boats in Lee County and 13 public boat ramps, of which Lee County operates five - Alva, Davis, Imperial River, Matlacha and Punta Rassa. The other ramps are operated by the cities. The county's last boat ramp project - Imperial River - was completed in 1992. One in 10 Lee County residents own a boat. County boat ramp fees are $3 a day for parking, except for Alva, which is free. The county has been discussing ways to obtain more water access for boaters and the state, through legislation filed this upcoming session, is considering increasing boat registration fees to pay for more ramps, piers and docks. Half of the purchase price the county has had budgeted for several years for a potential boat ramp site. The other half is coming from reserves. |