Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres. FILE PHOTO

Lee County will hold an open house-style meeting to outline current design plans for a shared use pathway along the Able Canal in Lehigh Acres.

The meeting is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. today, March 2, at Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road, South, in Lehigh Acres.

People are invited to stop by any time during the event to ask questions or to comment.

The 12-foot-wide shared use pathway will follow along the Able Canal for about 6 miles, including a 0.4-mile segment along Sailfish Canal to connect the pathway to the Harns Marsh access point. One of the county’s primary goals is to create a safer route for pedestrians and add to Lehigh’s recreational areas.

According to Jesse Lavender, Lee County Parks & Recreation director, this is an open house format, not a formal presentation.

“There won’t be a formal presentation whereby a speaker discusses key aspects of the project. Instead, anyone who comes to the meeting will be able to view drawings of the linear park on one of three tables and speak with a consultant or one of the county’s staff one on one,” Lavender explained.

“One of the more prominent elements of the project will be a 265-foot-plus pedestrian bridge that spans Charlie Diversion Canal. The linear park will also have direct tie-ins to Harns Marsh, Lehigh Acres Park and Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park, which offer parking as well as an assortment of active and passive recreational activities,” Lavender continued.

The linear park will feature the following elements: signalized crosswalks at key road crossings; pavilions where people can take a break/seek refuge from the sun; shade trees and palms; site amenities such as benches, trash/recycling bins and dog waste stations; and signage, including wayfinding.

Some members of the nearby community had voiced concern mainly in regards to the linear park.

“During the state’s Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study phase of the project, some homeowners expressed safety-related concerns during a public hearing. Specifically, they were concerned that the development of this linear park could lead to an uptick in crime. Since this meeting, though, the county has hired an additional six park rangers for a total of 16, increasing the county’s patrolling capacity to enforce rules and monitor activity,” Lavender said.

Another concern that was brought forth during this public hearing was that of motorized vehicles driving on the shared use pathway.

“As a remedy to this matter, the final design will incorporate a mix of strategically-spaced bollards, boulders for landscaping, in potentially troublesome locations. Additionally, park rangers will enforce the park’s no motorized vehicle rule and issue warnings or citations accordingly,” Lavender said.

This planned and budgeted $6.9 million project will be fully funded through Florida Department of Transportation’s Local Agency Program and Lee County Regional Park Impact Fees.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted April 20 to accept an interlocal agreement with the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District (LA-MSID) that authorizes Lee County to develop, operate and maintain the linear park along the northern side of Able Canal in Lehigh Acres.

The property is owned by LA-MSID and the district will be closely involved in the design, permitting, construction and subsequent operation and maintenance of the park.

The design is expected to be completed in August and construction is expected to start in late 2023.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities.

To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Joan LaGuardia, 239-533-2314, Florida Relay Service 711, or jlaguardia@leegov.com.

Accommodation will be provided at no cost to the requester.

Requests should be made at least 5 business days in advance.