Photo by LESLIE WILLIAMS HALE

As Parks and Recreation Director Dana Souza looks on and City Council Chair Mike Minozzi makes the cut, Councilors Chuck Kiester (far left) and Terri DiSciullo hold the ribbon stretching across the first city-owned beach access point on Marco Island. The access walkway was approved by City Council in May, and will be joined by a second city-owned access point in a few years after the Marriott Crystal Shores timeshare is developed.

Residents and city staff gathered Monday on one of the chilliest mornings of the season to dedicate a token of sunny skies and warm weather: the first city-owned public beach access.

Photo by LESLIE WILLIAMS HALE

As Parks and Recreation Director Dana Souza looks on and City Council Chair Mike Minozzi makes the cut, Councilors Chuck Kiester (far left) and Terri DiSciullo hold the ribbon stretching across the first city-owned beach access point on Marco Island. The access walkway was approved by City Council in May, and will be joined by a second city-owned access point in a few years after the Marriott Crystal Shores timeshare is developed.

The access point is threaded between the Royal Seafarer and the Madeira, and was negotiated with developers from the Madeira. City Parks and Recreation Director Dana Souza credited City Planner Bryan Milk with negotiating the agreement for the access.

Much-needed public beach access was a long time coming, said Souza, who helped usher in the dedication.

“Everyone knows that Rome was not built in a day, and beach access was not built in a day either,” Souza joked.

Souza’s department is responsible for maintaining the access area.

Dick Adams, chair of the city’s Beach Advisory Committee, said the opening of the access point sums up the very mission of his committee.

Photo by LESLIE WILLIAMS HALE

On a brisk, but bright day, Frank Trimonti and Dick Adams look out over the beach from the end of the newly-dedicated city-owned public beach access walkway. Trimonti is the owner of Norstar, the North Fort Myers firm contracted to do the work, and Adams is chair of the city's Beach Advisory Committee.

“It’s a good opportunity to get the local residents more access to the beach,” he said. “That’s what the committee is set up to do.”

The elevated walkway out to the wide swath of pristine white shore was built over environmentally sensitive dunes, which are covered with beach grass and other native vegetation.

Frank Tremonti is owner of Norstar Construction, the North Fort Myers company hired to build the access walkway. He said the project was a challenge because of the city’s emphasis on protecting the vegetation.

“We just finished building a fire station in North Fort Myers, and I think this was a harder job because of the sea grass,” he said.

City Council Chair Mike Minozzi, also on hand for the dedication, said the expanded beach access elevates the city’s commitment to preservation.

“With more access to the beach and more participation from the community, a continued dedication to leave the beach as it is more important than ever,” Minozzi said.

Total cost of the project was $200,000.

A second city beach access point will open in several years following the development of the Marriott Crystal Shores timeshare, at 600 Collier Boulevard.

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