Lee approves name for Estero park

The new community park in Estero finally has a name.

Lee County commissioners decided today to end a dispute and call it the Estero Community Park.

It is, after all, located in Estero and built with a majority of impact fees from Estero, said commissioner Ray Judah.

"It's been an issue that has been drawn out much too long," Judah said. "Because Estero defines the area where it is located, it's appropriate now that the name reflects that."

The issue found its way to commissioners after months of discussion among the communities of Estero, San Carlos Park and Bonita Springs. Commissioners said they received several opinionated e-mails and pleas from the public about the subject.

Some residents of San Carlos Park argued that naming the park after Estero would alienate members of the communities to the north and south. When the park opens, the county will move many of San Carlos Park's programs from the Karl Drews Community Center to Estero.

The Bonita Springs City Council supported the name B.E.S.T. Community Park (Bonita, Estero, San Carlos Park, Three Oaks), suggested by the Estero Chamber of Commerce.

That name would better reflect where funding came from to build the park, proponents argued. Impact fees were collected from Bonita Springs, when it was still unincorporated, and San Carlos Park to purchase land for the park and build the recreation center.

But supporters of other names for the park did not attend today's board meeting and commissions were left only to reflect on the comments of Estero residents.

The public comment swayed at least one commissioner who was leaning toward the name Corkscrew Community Park.

"I thought we really needed to recognize that this park went beyond just Estero," said commissioner Bob Janes. "But the impassioned pleas that I heard during the public comment period made me change my mind."