Lee County Commission approves contract to repair Bat House Park in Matlacha
The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve a contract to repair damage from Hurricane Ian at Bat House Park, 4445 Pine Island Road, Matlacha.
Hurricane Ian made landfall Sept. 28, causing extensive storm surge damage to the Bat House Park and facilities, including the restroom building, seawall, parking and walkway areas, barriers and signs.
The $295,000 contract with Fort Myers-based Rycon Construction Inc. will provide repairs to the restroom building and seawall structures, as well as the site restoration required to reopen the park to the public. The project will be funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund.
The work is expected to take about seven months.
According to the Lee County Parks and Recreation website, Bat House Park is a small park on Matlacha island that offers a fishing location and views of the water. The park is named after the “bat house” which sits a few feet out over the water from the edge of the overlook.
The popular park, located adjacent to the Matlacha Bridge, opened in late 2016. The restroom building was originally part of the Snook Inn Restaurant that was located on the site for many years and is considered a historic building.
This repair approval is part of the board’s ongoing commitment to rebuilding following Hurricane Ian. In October, the board voted to award a contract to repair the fishing pier at Matlacha Community Park, which included removing and replacing the deck and railings, benches, lighting, fish-cleaning stations and waste cans. That work is expected to be completed in the spring.
To learn more about repairs and recovery at Lee County Parks & Recreation sites, visit www.leegov.com/parks. Click on “Progress in Parks” or “Hurricane Ian Park Progress Map.”
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