Fort Myers voters approved a $75 million bond to pay for parks and greenspace improvement in the city.
The measure passed with 21,282 votes, or 67%, against 10,318, or 33% of the vote.
The bonds will be issued in different amounts at different times for specific projects, and the city would repay the money over 20 to 30 years, City Manager Marty Lawing said before the election.
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.
According to city records, Fort Myers has 37% less green space than other comparable cities, A median of these cities showed that 12.4 acres per 1,000 residents of green and open space existed. In Fort Myers, that number is 7.8% per 1,000 residents, the city says.
➤ 2024 Lee County Election Results
A 20-acre parcel part of the city’s plans
The work would include parks as well as golf facilities and a swimming pool reconstruction on Golf Course Avenue, as well as a $1.9 million park at 715 Tarpon Ave.