A guide for everything you need to know
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
As the weather starts to cool off, it’s the perfect time to get your pickleball practice in.
Naples has been cementing itself as the “pickleball capital of the world” over the past few years by hosting the national Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championship tournament. Last year, the tournament brought in 40,000 spectators and 3,000 players.
If you’re a part-time resident or full-time local looking to practice your pickleball skills before the tournament this spring, here’s everything you need to know about Collier County’s pickleball facilities.
Where can I play pickleball in Collier County?
- LOCATION: Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park
COURTS: 6
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
LIGHTS: Yes. Until 10 p.m.
- LOCATION: East Naples Community Park
COURTS: 59
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
LIGHTS: Yes. Until 10 p.m.
- LOCATION: Veterans Community Park
COURTS: 14
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
LIGHTS: Yes on courts nine through 14. Until 10 p.m.
Read the full article for information about costs, parking, new pickleball courts coming, and more on naplesnews.com.
Are you looking for a home in the “pickleball capital of the world”? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
October Inventory Expands in Anticipation of Winter Buyers
Phil Fernandez | Naples Daily News
If you’re wanting to track the next hot retail corridor in Southwest Florida, you can pretty much follow wherever Sunshine Ace sets up shop.
Like this year’s official summer landing at the 50-acre Founders Square complex at Collier Boulevard and Immokalee Road in Naples.
“Northeastern Collier County is among the fastest-growing regions in all of Southwest Florida,” said Sunshine Ace President Michael Wynn. His grandfather founded the original store in 1958 in downtown Naples, following the family starting a grocery in 1938. “The Immokalee Road corridor is poised for explosive growth over the next decade. (This) new store will serve the thousands of residents and businesses coming to this region over the next few decades.”
While growth is everywhere, here’s what to know about that spot and a few other newer sizzling corners of Southwest Florida as we close in on 2024. What kind of retail is coming to areas beyond the traditional, long-established malls, Tamiami Trail, Cape Coral’s Pine Island Road and Collier’s Fifth Avenue South?
What’s another clue on where retail emerges in SW Florida?
Increased residential growth leads to more stores, said LSI Companies President and CEO Justin Thibaut.
Commercial, retail and industrial development always lags new rooftops coming in, and given the last three years of increased permitting activity in the residential world, Thibaut said this was expected.
Of the types of developments and industries moving into these areas, he said many are anchored by multifamily residential, but some are remaining parcels that have sat idle while major residential developments were completed nearby.
Find out what is happening at Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard, and what’s causing the growth in Collier County corridors; new retail coming to Ave Maria, and more – read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Follow the retail in Collier County, to find a home contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Last September, Hurricane Ian became the sixth hurricane to destroy the historic Naples Pier. Since then, city officials have been working to redesign the iconic beach fixture so locals and visitors can enjoy it again.
Right now, city officials and a design firm are completing 100% design plans, which will include every detail about the new pier’s structure, materials, and features.
The new $20 million Naples Pier won’t look exactly the same as it did before Ian hit Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022. To make sure the pier is strong enough to withstand another storm, designers have changed a few things about the structure.
Here’s what’s new about the Naples Pier design:
Moving concessions
Before Hurricane Ian, the Naples Pier had offshore concession stands. Originally city officials and designers planned to keep the concessions over the water, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that might be an issue for insurance providers.
The new design now features onshore concessions at the start of the pier.
Shaded areas and benches
The new design includes additional shaded areas along the pier. The two middle structures that used to be concessions stands will be covered areas for locals and visitors to escape the Southwest Florida sun.
Designers have also added 16 bump-out benches for people to take in the gorgeous gulf views.
Taller and sturdier
Naples Pier will be three feet taller this time along with a larger and more elevated end structure for fishermen and people taking in the view.
Read more about improved accessibility and the timeline for construction and completion.
NOTE: The Naples Pier is an iconic landmark in Naples that was originally built in 1888. Since this time, the pier has been rebuilt after hurricanes in 1910, 1926, 1944, and 1960. In 2015 the pier was reconstructed, and then soon after in 2017 Hurricane Irma damaged the structure. —naplesgov.com
In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage to the Naples pier.
Fall in love with southwest Florida. To find a home in the Naples area, contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Charles Runnells | Naples Daily News
If all goes well, a new $25 million – $30 million performing-arts center could open within two years in Naples. The 900-seat Theater in the Garden would be the second-biggest venue in Collier County, after Artis-Naples.
Organizers announced the proposed venue Friday.
“This project is born out of the proven need for another venue to perform in Collier County,” said Livio Ferrari, director of Theater in the Garden Inc., a not-for-profit corporation.
Pavarotti’s famous husband, who died in 2007, never visited Naples, she said. But his American opera career started nearby on Florida’s east coast.
“The door to his American career was opened by Florida, when he performed in 1965 in Miami,” Nicoletta Pavarotti said. “So when Livio came to us with this idea, we found it fascinating.
“We were looking for a special place where art and opera were in the hearts of people … a place where we can grow together in the name of Luciano … a place where we can even work on the future of opera.”
Read the full article and see renderings on naplesnews.com.
Surround yourself with the good life, find a home in the Naples area, contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
