On Tuesday, the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award a $2.5 million contract to Johnson Engineering for the design and permitting phase to restore Crescent Park and Bowditch Beach Park on Fort Myers Beach.
Both parks are owned by Lee County and were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The permitting and design phase of the project for the 2 parks could take up to a year and a half. That would be followed by bids to do the work which could take another 6 months, totalling two years before the work actually even begins on the two parks.Â
According to Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane the plan to use astro-turf to cover the sand at Crescent Park is now off the table after backlash from the community. Residents who heard about the plan to use astro-turf were baffled why the county would cover the sand in the park and were quick to educate the county on how hot the turf becomes when out in the sun. Before Hurricane Ian, Crescent Park included a volleyball court, landscaping and several picnic tables. When the project is completed Crescent will include new shade structures, a variety of ground coverings, including natural beach sand, and ADA-compliant boardwalk, modular restrooms (which are in place now) and landscaping.
At Bowditch Park, even though the bathroom facilities were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian, Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman voiced his frustration about why it will take so long to get them back open when the structure of the building looked to be in tact. Lee County staff explained that everything from the plumbing to the electrical to the water was in need of repair. Hamman didn’t seem to be buying the explanation. TWhen the Bowditch project is completed it will include a four-building complex with concessions, restrooms, and maintenance facilities, picnic areas, trails, a boat dock and a public parking lot.
The money to repair the two parks will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund and the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s Legislative Appropriations Program.
Lynn Hall Park (also owned by Lee County) was also heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian and faces the same type of lengthy time-frame for repairs.
These time frames are ridiculous. The town needs to fast track permits and bidding doesn’t need to take 6 months. I’ve been a printer for the construction industry my entire life, running a plan room for bid projects for my clients. I’ve seen hospitals and schools go through bidding in about a month and half and start construction the following month. These timelines are ridiculous. So is the pier timeline.