×
×
homepage logo
STORE

Community council receives glimpse of new park

By Staff | Aug 26, 2015

Jason Lamey

Members of the Lehigh Community Council got a glimpse last week of what a new proposed 30-acre park will look like.

It is to be located on Joel Blvd. near 23rd Street and will include a host of features from large playgrounds, outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails over a natural preserve area.

It will be known as Joel Boulevard Park and already a park conceptual plan has been prepared.

The presentation last week was the third made by County Parks and Recreational personnel and officials say the conceptual drawings are accurate, but if someone wants to suggest minor changes, they may do so.

Jason Lamey made the presentation at the Community Council. He said the first presentation of the proposed park and its features took place on June 24 at the Alva Community Center and was publicly advertised. He said he also met with Alva Inc. on July 20.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN The Joel Boulevard Park proposed by Lee?County. The 30-acre park will features large playgrounds, an outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails.

Lamey is a planner with parks and recreation. With him at the meeting was Debbie Derums, the manager of the East District.

Not everyone on the Community Council had seen the presentation for the park which is on the south side of Joel Blvd., not far from Alva.

“We have budgeted $1.5 million for the remainder of the project. Johnson Engineering designed the park, just south of Palm Beach Blvd. at a cost of $98,400.

Lamey said in addition to the $1.5 million for the rest of the project, they may also pursue some grant money.

“County staff will be working alongside Johnson Engineering on the civil engineering and permitting. We’ll also be hiring a structural engineer and architect to design and engineer the structures. Once everything has been designed and permitted, the entire project will be put out to bid,” Lamey said.

While the project is moving forward with the concept plan being shown, he said there are still ways to make suggestions as far as “fine tuning it.”

While there are currently no ponds on the property, although parts of it are already quite low due to the fact that the previous owner removed some of its soil for use off site, Lamey said they will be making some of the areas at the park even lower by excavating them further and turning them into a pond.

“The goal is to create habitat for wading birds and other animals.

“Permitting will be required for this pond. It should be pretty routine though as this type of thing is done regularly in South Florida” Lamey said.

The park is close to one-third the size of Veterans Park which is around 81 acres on Homestead Rd.

“Lehigh Acres is an important part of Lee County and we want its residents to use the park. We are really looking for volunteers to help manage the agricultural part and we want to that message out,” Lamey said.

He said a webpage for the park won’t be done up until the facility has been completed.

Lamey said he felt that the members of the Community Council were supportive of the project as were people from the other two meetings.

“I think that the agricultural component has most people excited because it’s something unique,” he said.

Construction will likely begin on the park in 2016.

Mohamed Yasin, chairman of the Lehigh Community Council, asked if any of the 20/20 lands that are near the property will be used or incorporated into the park with trails.

Lamey said the park would stand alone and not become a part of those properties which are also owned by the county.

The new park will be the second largest in Lehigh and will be able to accommodate both cars and buses with ample parking.

The agricultural areas will have displays for different types of plants and will be educational areas.

Lamey said that one of the partners with recreation and parks is the Lee County Extension.

“They will play an important role in this project and they are one of the driving forces behind the agricultural component of this park.

“We’ll be working very closely with them throughout the project. Also, we’re looking for volunteers to help manage this part of the park,” Lamey said.

If you are interested, you should call the Volunteer Services coordinator, Kathy Cahill, at 239-533-7422 or email her at kcahill@leegov.com.

Community council receives glimpse of new park

By Staff | Aug 26, 2015

Jason Lamey

Members of the Lehigh Community Council got a glimpse last week of what a new proposed 30-acre park will look like.

It is to be located on Joel Blvd. near 23rd Street and will include a host of features from large playgrounds, outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails over a natural preserve area.

It will be known as Joel Boulevard Park and already a park conceptual plan has been prepared.

The presentation last week was the third made by County Parks and Recreational personnel and officials say the conceptual drawings are accurate, but if someone wants to suggest minor changes, they may do so.

Jason Lamey made the presentation at the Community Council. He said the first presentation of the proposed park and its features took place on June 24 at the Alva Community Center and was publicly advertised. He said he also met with Alva Inc. on July 20.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN The Joel Boulevard Park proposed by Lee?County. The 30-acre park will features large playgrounds, an outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails.

Lamey is a planner with parks and recreation. With him at the meeting was Debbie Derums, the manager of the East District.

Not everyone on the Community Council had seen the presentation for the park which is on the south side of Joel Blvd., not far from Alva.

“We have budgeted $1.5 million for the remainder of the project. Johnson Engineering designed the park, just south of Palm Beach Blvd. at a cost of $98,400.

Lamey said in addition to the $1.5 million for the rest of the project, they may also pursue some grant money.

“County staff will be working alongside Johnson Engineering on the civil engineering and permitting. We’ll also be hiring a structural engineer and architect to design and engineer the structures. Once everything has been designed and permitted, the entire project will be put out to bid,” Lamey said.

While the project is moving forward with the concept plan being shown, he said there are still ways to make suggestions as far as “fine tuning it.”

While there are currently no ponds on the property, although parts of it are already quite low due to the fact that the previous owner removed some of its soil for use off site, Lamey said they will be making some of the areas at the park even lower by excavating them further and turning them into a pond.

“The goal is to create habitat for wading birds and other animals.

“Permitting will be required for this pond. It should be pretty routine though as this type of thing is done regularly in South Florida” Lamey said.

The park is close to one-third the size of Veterans Park which is around 81 acres on Homestead Rd.

“Lehigh Acres is an important part of Lee County and we want its residents to use the park. We are really looking for volunteers to help manage the agricultural part and we want to that message out,” Lamey said.

He said a webpage for the park won’t be done up until the facility has been completed.

Lamey said he felt that the members of the Community Council were supportive of the project as were people from the other two meetings.

“I think that the agricultural component has most people excited because it’s something unique,” he said.

Construction will likely begin on the park in 2016.

Mohamed Yasin, chairman of the Lehigh Community Council, asked if any of the 20/20 lands that are near the property will be used or incorporated into the park with trails.

Lamey said the park would stand alone and not become a part of those properties which are also owned by the county.

The new park will be the second largest in Lehigh and will be able to accommodate both cars and buses with ample parking.

The agricultural areas will have displays for different types of plants and will be educational areas.

Lamey said that one of the partners with recreation and parks is the Lee County Extension.

“They will play an important role in this project and they are one of the driving forces behind the agricultural component of this park.

“We’ll be working very closely with them throughout the project. Also, we’re looking for volunteers to help manage this part of the park,” Lamey said.

If you are interested, you should call the Volunteer Services coordinator, Kathy Cahill, at 239-533-7422 or email her at kcahill@leegov.com.

Community council receives glimpse of new park

By Staff | Aug 26, 2015

Jason Lamey

Members of the Lehigh Community Council got a glimpse last week of what a new proposed 30-acre park will look like.

It is to be located on Joel Blvd. near 23rd Street and will include a host of features from large playgrounds, outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails over a natural preserve area.

It will be known as Joel Boulevard Park and already a park conceptual plan has been prepared.

The presentation last week was the third made by County Parks and Recreational personnel and officials say the conceptual drawings are accurate, but if someone wants to suggest minor changes, they may do so.

Jason Lamey made the presentation at the Community Council. He said the first presentation of the proposed park and its features took place on June 24 at the Alva Community Center and was publicly advertised. He said he also met with Alva Inc. on July 20.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN The Joel Boulevard Park proposed by Lee?County. The 30-acre park will features large playgrounds, an outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails.

Lamey is a planner with parks and recreation. With him at the meeting was Debbie Derums, the manager of the East District.

Not everyone on the Community Council had seen the presentation for the park which is on the south side of Joel Blvd., not far from Alva.

“We have budgeted $1.5 million for the remainder of the project. Johnson Engineering designed the park, just south of Palm Beach Blvd. at a cost of $98,400.

Lamey said in addition to the $1.5 million for the rest of the project, they may also pursue some grant money.

“County staff will be working alongside Johnson Engineering on the civil engineering and permitting. We’ll also be hiring a structural engineer and architect to design and engineer the structures. Once everything has been designed and permitted, the entire project will be put out to bid,” Lamey said.

While the project is moving forward with the concept plan being shown, he said there are still ways to make suggestions as far as “fine tuning it.”

While there are currently no ponds on the property, although parts of it are already quite low due to the fact that the previous owner removed some of its soil for use off site, Lamey said they will be making some of the areas at the park even lower by excavating them further and turning them into a pond.

“The goal is to create habitat for wading birds and other animals.

“Permitting will be required for this pond. It should be pretty routine though as this type of thing is done regularly in South Florida” Lamey said.

The park is close to one-third the size of Veterans Park which is around 81 acres on Homestead Rd.

“Lehigh Acres is an important part of Lee County and we want its residents to use the park. We are really looking for volunteers to help manage the agricultural part and we want to that message out,” Lamey said.

He said a webpage for the park won’t be done up until the facility has been completed.

Lamey said he felt that the members of the Community Council were supportive of the project as were people from the other two meetings.

“I think that the agricultural component has most people excited because it’s something unique,” he said.

Construction will likely begin on the park in 2016.

Mohamed Yasin, chairman of the Lehigh Community Council, asked if any of the 20/20 lands that are near the property will be used or incorporated into the park with trails.

Lamey said the park would stand alone and not become a part of those properties which are also owned by the county.

The new park will be the second largest in Lehigh and will be able to accommodate both cars and buses with ample parking.

The agricultural areas will have displays for different types of plants and will be educational areas.

Lamey said that one of the partners with recreation and parks is the Lee County Extension.

“They will play an important role in this project and they are one of the driving forces behind the agricultural component of this park.

“We’ll be working very closely with them throughout the project. Also, we’re looking for volunteers to help manage this part of the park,” Lamey said.

If you are interested, you should call the Volunteer Services coordinator, Kathy Cahill, at 239-533-7422 or email her at kcahill@leegov.com.

Community council receives glimpse of new park

By Staff | Aug 26, 2015

Jason Lamey

Members of the Lehigh Community Council got a glimpse last week of what a new proposed 30-acre park will look like.

It is to be located on Joel Blvd. near 23rd Street and will include a host of features from large playgrounds, outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails over a natural preserve area.

It will be known as Joel Boulevard Park and already a park conceptual plan has been prepared.

The presentation last week was the third made by County Parks and Recreational personnel and officials say the conceptual drawings are accurate, but if someone wants to suggest minor changes, they may do so.

Jason Lamey made the presentation at the Community Council. He said the first presentation of the proposed park and its features took place on June 24 at the Alva Community Center and was publicly advertised. He said he also met with Alva Inc. on July 20.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN The Joel Boulevard Park proposed by Lee?County. The 30-acre park will features large playgrounds, an outdoor classroom and agricultural greenhouses, plus some trails.

Lamey is a planner with parks and recreation. With him at the meeting was Debbie Derums, the manager of the East District.

Not everyone on the Community Council had seen the presentation for the park which is on the south side of Joel Blvd., not far from Alva.

“We have budgeted $1.5 million for the remainder of the project. Johnson Engineering designed the park, just south of Palm Beach Blvd. at a cost of $98,400.

Lamey said in addition to the $1.5 million for the rest of the project, they may also pursue some grant money.

“County staff will be working alongside Johnson Engineering on the civil engineering and permitting. We’ll also be hiring a structural engineer and architect to design and engineer the structures. Once everything has been designed and permitted, the entire project will be put out to bid,” Lamey said.

While the project is moving forward with the concept plan being shown, he said there are still ways to make suggestions as far as “fine tuning it.”

While there are currently no ponds on the property, although parts of it are already quite low due to the fact that the previous owner removed some of its soil for use off site, Lamey said they will be making some of the areas at the park even lower by excavating them further and turning them into a pond.

“The goal is to create habitat for wading birds and other animals.

“Permitting will be required for this pond. It should be pretty routine though as this type of thing is done regularly in South Florida” Lamey said.

The park is close to one-third the size of Veterans Park which is around 81 acres on Homestead Rd.

“Lehigh Acres is an important part of Lee County and we want its residents to use the park. We are really looking for volunteers to help manage the agricultural part and we want to that message out,” Lamey said.

He said a webpage for the park won’t be done up until the facility has been completed.

Lamey said he felt that the members of the Community Council were supportive of the project as were people from the other two meetings.

“I think that the agricultural component has most people excited because it’s something unique,” he said.

Construction will likely begin on the park in 2016.

Mohamed Yasin, chairman of the Lehigh Community Council, asked if any of the 20/20 lands that are near the property will be used or incorporated into the park with trails.

Lamey said the park would stand alone and not become a part of those properties which are also owned by the county.

The new park will be the second largest in Lehigh and will be able to accommodate both cars and buses with ample parking.

The agricultural areas will have displays for different types of plants and will be educational areas.

Lamey said that one of the partners with recreation and parks is the Lee County Extension.

“They will play an important role in this project and they are one of the driving forces behind the agricultural component of this park.

“We’ll be working very closely with them throughout the project. Also, we’re looking for volunteers to help manage this part of the park,” Lamey said.

If you are interested, you should call the Volunteer Services coordinator, Kathy Cahill, at 239-533-7422 or email her at kcahill@leegov.com.