Council narrows choice for Beach park name
One side of the naming partnership for selecting the under-construction beachside park at the foot of Matanzas Bridge has weighed in with their decision.
The five members of the Fort Myers Beach Town Council conducted a stack ranking, closed ballot process and decided on Shell Arches Family Park from their top selections by a slim 3-2 count. The Lee County Board of County Commissioners is on deck with their choice and will do so next Tuesday (May 24) at their weekly meeting.
Since the county officially purchased the three Gulf lots last June, the BOCC has the final say in the matter. The parcels at 1080, 1113 and 1130 Estero Blvd., which are being converted into a beachside park to complement Lynn Hall Park nearby, was occupied by Howard Johnson, Days Inn and Sandman Motel businesses before Hurricane Charley changed the landscape in 2004.
The Council selection of Shell Arches Family Park came after Vice Mayor Bob Raymond asked his council members to consider adding “Family” to the park name whatever the choice. The Council approved that decision in the closed ballot by a 3-2 decision.
“We push this (Beach) as a family friendly island. We are family oriented. I just think it’s a nice, smooth transition,” said Raymond.
Beach residents and visitors had ample time to weigh in with their personal choices since the naming process began. Emailing preferences to ideas@fortmyersbeachfl.gov‘>ideas@fortmyersbeachfl.gov was one way anyone could have offered their choice.
The Council even passed the assignment along to the Community Resources Advisory Board two weeks ago for their recommendations in a stack ranking process to narrow a list of 8 names (at the time) to their top three selections.
After each CRAB member weighed in, Crescent Beach Park, Shell Arches Park and Pierside Park were chosen from the list. The other names considered were Now Paradise Park, Booch Park, Booch Demarchi Park, Mulholland Park and Seafarer Family Park. Late entries of Charley Park, Veterans Park and Sandal Foot Park were added.
Two members of the public presented their choices and reasons during public comment Monday night.
Betty Simpson, who has been a Beach resident for 45 years, pitched Crescent Beach Park because the Beach used to be named Crescent Beach and Crescent Road was the name of the road that the old swing bridge led to on the island. Rick Sebastian, the Town receptionist who has lived here since 1979, pushed for Shell Arches Park due to the past history of gull wing arches (built in 1924) as the gateway to Estero Island.
“It’s going to be the (county commissioners) final vote, but it is going to be our recommendation that we will send from here,” said Mayor Larry Kiker.