Does downtown Fort Myers need more parks and open space for residents and visitors?
City leaders think so, and voters will get to decide whether to plunk down up to $75 million to spruce up the City of Palms.
“Some of the projects could be land purchases and park development,” said City Manager Marty Lawing. “I think it’s more than about just downtown. We’re trying to be a high-quality city and a place where people want to live and do business.
“And when we look at where we are compared to other cities our size, we have less park lands and green space that other cities do” Lawing said.
The bonds would be issued in different amounts at different times for specific projects.
The city would repay the money over 20 to 30 years, Lawing said.
More: Fort Myers residents to vote on expanded parks, trails
There are about 100,000 people living in Fort Myers, and homeowners with a taxable property value of $250,000 would pay approximately $86 per year for the parks and green space upgrades, according to the city.