Clarification regarding the status of new park in Pine Island Center
To the editor:
Last week’s Pine Island Eagle letter signed by me was a big mistake – only the type of mistake a computer can make. I don’t know how it happened, but the Eagle republished a letter I wrote about a year and a half ago. In that letter I had requested that the county limit the facilities they planned to build at the 40 acres west of the Methodist Church to ecotourism-oriented amenities and thus not destroy the slash pines and other native vegetation on the site (the sole remaining pine flatwoods in Pine Island Center). My letter is history because the county did exactly as I and many other Pine Islanders had requested.
Those 40 acres are scheduled by Lee County to be a beautiful county park to be called Pinewood Trails Park. The native vegetation will be preserved, and the park will have both paved (ADA compliant) and primitive trails, parking, two picnic pavilions, an observation platform overlooking Pine Island Sound, as well as benches, picnic tables, trash/recycling bins, drinking fountain, bicycle rack, dog station and interpretive signs. This is going to be a beautiful eco-park benefiting both the environment and the Pine Island economy. I understand final approval by the County Commissioners and the beginning of construction is expected within the next few months.
I apologize for the confusion caused by the untimely (and mysterious) republication of my obsolete letter of 18 months ago. I have received calls from the confused media as well as confused citizens regarding the letter, and no doubt County Parks and County Commissioners have as well. I hope this letter clears it all up.
Finally, my sincere thanks to County Parks and Recreation Department for all of your hard work, and sincere thanks for creating a beautiful park on Pine Island.
Phil Buchanan
St. James City