As most Marco Islanders are aware, in 1964 the Deltona Corporation declared, on its Master Plan for Marco Island, Tract K in Unit 11 (the Tigertail area) a school site.

In December 1989 Tract K was donated by Deltona for the residents of Marco Island and Marco Shores and deeded to the Collier County School Board at no cost. In all the documentation between Deltona and the School Board, Tract K was always referred to as a school site and was intended for the use of the residents of Marco Island for educational/recreational activities.

For almost 45 years Tract K has sat vacant, not living up to the original plans. As parents and coaches have been pointing out, there is now a pressing need for recreational facilities for younger Marco Island residents. As it has many times in the past, the MICA Board of Directors has again urged the Marco Island City Council and the School Board of Collier County to cooperate now and take necessary steps to fulfill the original spirit of Deltona’s donation of Tract K.

Just as other properties that the Deltona Corporation donated are presently in use by the residents of Marco Island for churches and parks, it was expected that Tract K, which was also donated for public use, would remain in the public domain.

As Deltona envisioned, Tract K is a unique parcel of land that has the potential to serve our community for generations to come. MICA has surveyed its members on numerous occasions during the last 11 years with regard to the use of Tract K. The results of each survey overwhelmingly support Tract K remaining in the public domain as a school site, a park or a cultural center.

MICA has requested in the past that the city rezone Tract K from “residential single-family” to “public use.” We feel it is imperative that the property be re-zoned for public use, as was the original intent of the Deltona Corporation.

In the past, the Collier County School Board twice declared Tract K surplus and attempted to place it on the market for sale to a developer. The city negotiated in good faith with the Collier County School Board regarding the transfer of Tract K during 1997 and 1998 and again in 2006 and 2007. Each time the city clearly made its intentions known of retaining the property for public use for the benefit of the residents of Marco Island. Unfortunately, each time negotiations slipped by the wayside and the property still sits idle.

Let’s not wait another 45 years. Now is the time to act to bring Tract K to its intended use on behalf of the residents of Marco Island. It is our greatest hope that within the next 90 days an agreement will be reached to meet the needs of the school aged children of the island.

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