The East County Water Control District (ECWCD) and Lee County have taken the first step toward an agreement which would result in the development of a low-impact hiking/ exercise trail in Lehigh Acres.

The proposed greenway system would utilize existing ECWCD right-of-ways, but would be designed, built, and managed by Lee County.

The proposed plan would allow ECWCD to continue with its current maintenance standards of the right-of-ways and waterways, according to David Lindsay, manager of ECWCD.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 298, ECWCD would not have adequate powers in order to provide any assistance to Lee County in greenway management, he said.

ECWCD commissioners voted 3-2 at their last meeting to bring a Sense of the Board Resolution back to ECWCD’s November 23 meeting for a vote. Commissioners Desmond Barrett and Mike Welch supported the idea, but opposed a resolution, until the Lee County Commission committed to the project, Lindsay said.

This resolution would signify ECWCD’s willingness to move forward on planning for a greenway project on Able Canal, from the Barbara Farrell Park/Williams Park area west toward Harns Marsh on ECWCD’s land.

This first phase of the Lehigh Greenways Plan would use existing park impact fees to finance the project, officials at ECWCD said.

The Greenways Plan includes several miles of greenways, on several ECWCD canals, phased over many years.

For more information visit: http://www.leeparks.org/maps/index.html.