Bonita Springs City Council approved by a 6-1 vote Oct. 18 the first design of a makeover for the square surrounding the historic banyan tree landmark across from Riverside Park on Old 41 Road.
Estimated to be more than a century old, the banyan tree in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs is the second oldest banyan in Southwest Florida, second to the one at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
In August 2022, Miami-based town planning firm DPZ CoDesign presented a few concepts to Council of how the land around the tree could be utilized. DPZ made its mark on Southwest Florida when it revitalized Fifth Avenue in Naples in the 1990s and is working on plans for Naples Design District.
Council ultimately chose the option that involves replacing the Lee County Sheriff’s Office substation in the middle of the square with green space, a playground and a children’s splash fountain. A plaza in the middle of a square would have a floor mural with the memorial plaza on the northwest corner of the square maintained in its current position.
“Of all of the designs, if you look at them, this is the most aesthetically pleasing, and it’s the most responsible decision for us as a city moving forward,” Councilor Jesse Purdon said.
Local business leaders in support of the design, including Chris Magnus, owner of future food truck park Rooftop at Riverside on Old 41.
“Staff has done such a great job with so many things. Give them the options to put in the most incredible splash pad you’ve ever seen, the most incredible playground you’ve ever seen. Let’s draw people to Bonita Springs,” Magnus said. “And let’s make this the true gem of Bonita.”
Mayor Rick Steinmeyer was the sole dissenting vote. He voiced against removing the substation, citing safety concerns about lack of police presence.
Councilor Nigel Fullick mentioned the substation has been sitting vacant for years. “Nothing against the sheriff’s department, but the substation has been a parking lot for their vehicles for about three, four years now, that’s all it serves,” Fullick said. “There’s no active police presence. I think there’ll be more activity once we put in the park and approve the Banyan Tree project.”
City staff will be in continuing conversation with DPZ as the project progresses, and as the firm reviews designs from local architects. A timeline for the next stage of design wasn’t announced.
