What we know: Several Lee County beach parks predicted to reopen by May

Samantha Neely, Fort Myers News-Press
·3 min read

Nearly six months after Hurricane Ian forced parks along the Gulf Coast closed, residents will soon be able to return to their favorite beach spots.

Lee County officials announced a phased reopening of beach parks on Tuesday with an overall goal of working alongside local, state and federal partners to progress the reopenings as quickly as possible.

Officials said they will ensure safety for the community and the best use of taxpayer dollars while working towards reopening.

What's new in Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach's colorful new street signs: ‘It’s just bringing some happiness to people’

Did Ian affect coral reefs?Lee County reefs largely covered with sand, debris in the wake of Hurricane Ian

Here is what we know and what to expect over the coming months:

What parks will reopen and when?

The tentative opening plans for beaches and beach parks are:

Early March

  • Dog Beach

  • Boca Grande beach accesses

Mid-March

  • Alison Hagerup Beach Park on Captiva

  • San Carlos Bay/Bunche Beach Preserve, south Fort Myers

  • Bonita Beach Accesses 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9

Mid-April

  • Lynne Hall Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach

  • Bonita Beach Park

May

  • Bowditch Point Park on Fort Myers Beach

  • Bonita Beach accesses 2,3, 7, 8 and 10, also known as Little Hickory Island Park

  • Crescent Beach Family Park on Fort Myers Beach

Who will be working on the reopening on the parks?

Lee County Natural Resources is overseeing the restoration of the natural elements while Lee County Parks & Recreation is overseeing the beach parks restoration, including facilities and amenities.

What work has gone into them already post-Ian?

As of Feb. 14, beach erosion assessments have been completed and transmitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and FEMA.

According to Lee County official's announcement, Ian damaged the county's beaches and the sensitive ecosystems with storm debris, pollution and the removal of healthy, safe sand and dune vegetation. The county is ensuring that the many elements of the beach restoration process are being rigorously documented to support full reimbursement through federal funds.

"This involves assessing and inventorying the damages, meeting FEMA criteria and participating in FEMA inspections, and determining eligibility for public assistance funding. The same goes for beach park facilities, which also were severely impacted. Parks & Recreation is following the important process involving documentation and inspections per FEMA standards to ensure local taxpayer dollars are not depleted on repairs," Lee County officials said within their press release.

What do I need to know before returning to the beach?

Per officials, residents and visitors are advised:

  • Beaches and beach parks have not been restored to pre-Hurricane Ian conditions.

  • Some amenities such as restroom facilities, piers and walkovers have not been repaired or replaced at this time.

  • Debris continues to wash onshore and quickly may be obscured by sand.

  • Beach shoes should be worn at all times.

  • Debris can still be found in near-shore areas, such as dunes or mangrove-lined coastlines.

  • Closure signs are posted where necessary, and www.leeparks.org has status updates.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What we know: Lee County to implement phased reopening of beach parks