Fort Myers approves City of Palms Park demolition

City of Palms Park in Midtown Fort Myers is set for demolition as debate continues over what to salvage and the site’s future. 

Fort Myers City Council on April 20 voted 4-2 to award Honc Destruction Inc. a $988,441 contract to demolish the stadium and surrounding structures, dispose of debris and stabilize the site. Councilors Fred Burson and Terolyn Watson cast dissenting votes. Councilor Diana Giraldo was out sick but watched the meeting remotely. 

Honc was the lowest of nine bidders the city considered for the project, according to a city staff report. The company is owned by Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka. 

Honc is expected to coordinate with the city on what items will be salvaged. Those include but are not limited to City of Palms Park signage and signage reading “Wilbur Billy Smith Field,” along with fencing and entrance gates on the front facade. 

Items to be demolished on the 13.9-acre site include stadium seating, roofs, press boxes, concourses, foundations, lighting towers, concessions, restrooms, storage buildings, fencing, signage, railings, vegetation and underground structures. 

The 8,000-seat ballpark opened in 1993 as the home of the Boston Red Sox spring training games. After the 2011 season, the Red Sox moved spring training to JetBlue Park in south Fort Myers. As activity at the park declined, maintenance costs grew too high to justify keeping the facility without redevelopment or demolition. 

Former Fort Myers Mayor Wilbur Smith led efforts to build City of Palms Park. But according to Mayor Kevin Anderson, Smith approves of plans to tear it down and redevelop the site. 

“He said he feels this is in the best interest of the city, and we should move forward with it,” Anderson said. 

Burson said he would like to see the office portion and front facade saved and repurposed, pointing to Bush Stadium in Indianapolis as an example. Part of that old ballpark’s structure was preserved to create loft apartments. 

Councilor Liston Bochette said he supported Burson’s idea but would need to discuss it with City Manager Marty Lawing. After a previous Council meeting, Bochette also suggested a performing arts hall as one aspect of the site. 

Indiana-based developer Card & Associates is interested in redeveloping the site into a mixed-use sports and community complex with a hotel, retail space, multifamily residences and other amenities. 

Card and the city in January entered into a $356,180 feasibility study and site scoping agreement that is expected to be completed this summer. The company offered to reimburse the city if the plan moves forward. The project is envisioned as an anchor for Midtown redevelopment. 

“It’s just such a great location, not only for the project but the development around it,” said Card’s Florida consultant Cole Peacock. “It will be a centerpiece and center point for Midtown.” 

Card plans to work with city staff on desired preservation efforts. 

“We will work with the city, and we want to work with the city to preserve historical components,” Peacock said.