Gazebo on the way out at Bayside Park – Fort Myers Beach Talk

Some people like the gazebo at Bayside Park, which will be removed under the town's current plans for the park. Neighboring businesses support removing the gazebo but don't support the town's plans to put a stage there. / Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Fort Myers Beach is going through a lot of changes and Bayside Park is no different. Gaining consensus on the towns plans for overhauling the park has proven to be a challenge.

For the two businesses on either side of Bayside Park off Old San Carlos Boulevard, the town is headed in the right direction though they differ on some aspects of the overhauls.

The town council has given the go-ahead to allow its engineering and design consultants DRMP to send out the Bayside Park plans for bid. Those plans, as drawn up by DRMP with input from town staff and the town council, includes shade sails, a new grassy area, some replacement of trees and removal of trees, a new stage, veterans memorial tribute and rain garden.

A longstanding gazebo at the center of the park near the rail overlooking Matanzas Pass would be removed for the stage. The neighboring businesses support the removal of the gazebo but not the replacement of the stage.

That stage, big enough to hold about three people, is out of place, said Nervous Nellies co-owner Tyler Lemmer. He said a stage would only be used a few times a year, not enough to justify the cost. The restaurant borders the park on one side.

Some people like the gazebo at Bayside Park, which will be removed under the town's current plans for the park. Neighboring businesses support removing the gazebo but don't support the town's plans to put a stage there. / Photo by Nathan Mayberg

However, Lemmer said he didnt support keeping the gazebo.

I think it should be removed. I dont want anything in its place, Lemmer said. Its a park. Lets open it up. Lemmer said the gazebo attracts homeless people.

Snug Harbor co-owner Peter Ennis, whose restaurant borders the other side of the park, shared Lemmers view regarding the stage and gazebo. He said the park is not a big area to begin with.

Ennis said the gazebo was outdated and doesnt have the nice appearance that Bayside park should have.

He doesnt support plans by some on the council to install shade trees at the park, which he said would block the view of the water.

Some people like the gazebo at Bayside Park, which will be removed under the town's current plans for the park. Neighboring businesses support removing the gazebo but don't support the town's plans to put a stage there. / Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy said the gazebo, which is younger than the town, will be coming down. I dont know how much use it gets, Murphy said.

Murphy said he recently met with the two neighboring businesses and said he supports their desire to merge the walking paths along the rails overlooking the bay at the rear of the park. Murphy said some work would need to be done on the seawall and docks to make it happen.

It will make a very nice walk for people, Murphy said.

I dont think there is much difference in what everyone wants, Murphy said.

Chris Lloyd, of Fort Myers Beach, said he didnt like the towns plans for Bayside Park and the gazebo. Its a little bang for a lot of buck, he said. He said a stage was preferable to the gazebo but wasnt worthy of the cost. I think the gazebo is fine, Lloyd said.

Lloyd said if there were more events requiring a stage at Bayside Park than the stage could be justified. This space is so small, how many people are going to be able to utilize it?

For David Bickes, of Michigan, the plans to remove the gazebo are horrible. Its a great place to hang out. Bickes said he and his family have been visiting Fort Myers Beach for the last 10 years and enjoys the gazebo. I love it, he said.

I hate to see it go, Bickes said.

Lemmer said he would like to see a small-scale fountain return to Bayside Park. The old fountain has issues due to the seawall leaking, he said.

Lemmer and Ennis want to move the veterans memorial from the front of the park with the rain garden (where it is currently proposed to go) to alongside the walking path near the back rails overlooking the bay.

Lemmer said the towns new plans are moving in the right direction.

Ennis said he is fine with the towns plans for shade sails overlooking the park, along with a new grassy area to replace trees at the center of the park which are currently equipped with lights.

Ennis also wants the park and general area to be lit up more. He said the installation of turf would give it a nice park feel.

Cost estimates for the project depend on which features are ultimately chosen as well as the final design and engineering fees for DRMP.

Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt said We are developing specifications for a bid to replace the gazebo with a stage. Town council will make the decision to proceed or not when the contract award is up for a vote.

According to the towns contracts with DRMP from 2020, they are to be paid $190,700 for the design of the Bayside Park project plus $1,000 for design meetings and public relations. Permitting costs are expected to cost another $6,000 for the firm along with more than $8,000 for the stormwater portion.

The contract also calls for additional charges depending on the time it takes to approve the designs.

Fort Myers Beach Communications Coordinator Jennifer Dexter stated Thursday that DRMP is to be paid $242,208 for its work on Bayside Park at 90% completion. The total project has an estimated cost of $524,000 at 90% completion before bid.

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Gazebo on the way out at Bayside Park - Fort Myers Beach Talk