Fort Myers Beach's colorful new street signs: ‘It’s just bringing some happiness to people’
Hurricane Ian blew away many of the street signs on Fort Myers Beach. Now a group of volunteers is doing something about it.
And they’re doing it with a sunny beach vibe, too.
“It’s just a small thing that we can do,” says volunteer Gerri Leonard of Fort Myers. “It’s just bringing some happiness to people who are living through some awful times.”
Their colorful, handmade street signs started popping up along Estero Boulevard about three weeks ago.
The signs help contractors, visitors and even longtime residents find their way around the island, says co-organizer Katrena Young. Plus they bring a little joy and art to people’s drive.
“We’re going for a beach vibe,” Young says. “Every one’s unique."
Turning pain into art: Photojournalist explores a history of abuse, trauma and love in Judy: A Mother's Love
Restaurant news: Hurricane Ian-destroyed Fort Myers Beach restaurant reopens at new island location
Edison Fest 2023: Parades, food truck wars, car shows and more things to do
Co-organizer Ryan Jerz, whose Fort Myers Beach house was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian, knows firsthand what it’s like trying to find your way around the island. He rode out Ian at Lighthouse Resort Inn and then had a hard time finding his own house the next day.
“Just finding my own street was difficult,” Jerz says. “Normally you use landmarks. But when entire businesses and all the things that you are familiar with aren’t there, it’s hard to find your bearings.”
The Ryan & Katrena Crew gets to work on Fort Myers Beach
The group of volunteers — informally known as the Ryan & Katrena Crew — meets every Saturday morning at either Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier or Matanzas Pass Preserve. Then they paint their colorful street signs for three or four hours.
The project started about three weeks ago when Fort Myers Beach couple Jerz and Young asked people on Facebook to help them make signs.
That first weekend, about four people showed up. The next weekend, it was 25.
“They’re all just a blessing,” Young says. “I can’t even believe that this many people show up for this.”
Young and Jerz were already helping clean up hurricane debris on the island. This is just another way to get things back to normal, Young says.
People seem to love the new signs, she says. Sometimes road crews holler their approval as they’re driving by in work trucks.
“While we’re posting the signs, they’re screaming ‘thank you’ at us,” Young says. “We get honked at a lot. ... So it’s been good.”
Sunshine and cheerful colors guide the way
On a recent Saturday, about 15 people showed up to make the signs at Matanzas Pass Preserve behind Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.
With paintbrushes in hand, they sat on long benches and carefully transformed wooden boards into cheerful, often whimsical street signs: A tiny church house for Chapel Street, a shining sun for St. Peters Drive or just an eye-pleasing combination of bright colors for Primo Drive, Tropical Shore Way and Lovers Lane.
“There’s a lot with palm trees on them and starfish," says Young, who admits she and her boyfriend aren't very good artists, themselves. “They’re very colorful. I’ve been impressed."
Many of those volunteers don’t even live on Fort Myers Beach. They drive down from Fort Myers, Cape Coral and elsewhere.
Some of them had hurricane damage of their own, says volunteer Dorine Walker of Cape Coral. But nowhere near as bad as what Fort Myers Beach suffered.
“We’re fortunate that we can give back," Walker says. "We really are.”
So far, they’ve made about 35 signs, Young says. She estimates they have about 150 left to go — 300, actually, since all the signs are two-sided and therefore require two different boards.
The Ryan & Katrena Crew aren't the only ones making street signs, either. After their project appeared on TV news, other people apparently thought it was a great idea and started painting, too.
“People are starting to get out there and make their own signs now,” Young says.
When will official Fort Myers Beach street signs go up?
Young and Jerz say they’ll keeping painting the signs as long as necessary. That could take another couple months, at least. They’re focusing mostly on Estero Boulevard, but also expanding to side streets, too.
“We’re basically gonna keep going until everything has a sign or the city gets their signs up,” Young says.
That could take a while, says Fort Myers Beach spokeswoman Jennifer Dexter.
“The street signs require cooperation with Lee County and must be bid, which are not quick or simple processes,” Dexter says. “Lee County owns Estero Boulevard and the Town owns the side streets.
“The signs have specifications that must be met due to state statutes and Town ordinances — things like reflection, size, etc. This process will take months.”
Meanwhile, the Ryan & Katrena Crew will keep painting and posting their signs along Estero Boulevard and elsewhere, Young says.
And when they’re done with that, who knows? Other places lost street signs, too.
“This isn’t the only place that needs ‘em,” Young says. “Matlacha got completely destroyed. Pine Island, Sanibel, Captiva.”
Regardless of what's next, they hope the Fort Myers Beach signs bring happiness to people and make it easier to get around town.
“It’s a personal touch,” Jerz says. “Everything’s going to be rebuilt. That’s the way things go. But it’s nice to set a good tone for when things come back.”
How to help out
The Ryan & Katrena Crew meets from 9 a.m. to about 1 p.m. every Saturday at either the base of Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier, 10 Old San Carlos Blvd., or at the entrance to Matanzas Pass Preserve behind Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, 2751 Oak St..
Jerz and Young post details every Tuesday on the Facebook group I Love Fort Myers Beach, Florida. But they plan to start their own Facebook page any day now.
They’re not actively soliciting donations, Young says, but that hasn’t stopped people from helping out anyway. Home Depot donated signs and posts, for example, and Southwest Florida Professional Fire Fighters gave them money to buy reflective paint.
People often bring their own paint and supplies, as well.
For more information, visit I Love Fort Myers Beach, Florida, or call Young at 734-216-0299.
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Email him at crunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1). You can also call at 239-335-0368.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Volunteers replace Fort Myers Beach street signs with art after Ian
