Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
Naples has secured $31.5 million for a trio of projects in next year’s state budget.
The budget, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, includes:
- $25 million for a new coastal stormwater management system
- $5 million for the rebuild of Naples Pier
- $1.5 million for lake restoration
City manager Jay Boodheshwar shared the good news via email, saying the city is “extremely grateful to the governor” for approving the funding.
However, he noted the city didn’t get all of its projects approved, which came as a disappointment.
Jay Boodheshwar, Naples city manager
The governor vetoed funding for two of the city’s projects, as part of his larger efforts to trim the budget state lawmakers sent him.
Across the board, DeSantis cut about $1 billion in projects and programs from the budget, reducing it to about $116.5 billion.
In the city Naples, the cuts included:
- $1 million to address flooding issues and improve water quality by replacing existing septic systems with centralized wastewater systems
- $3 million to help improve resiliency against sea level rise and to reduce the threat of storm surge for the River Park East community, including Anthony Park.
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
It’s been quite a week for Naples.
U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday ranked Naples at No. 1 on its annual “Best Places to Live” list. And now the town has received another distinction: It’s home to a Top 10 beach in the U.S.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park was rated at No. 8, one of two state beaches named in Top 10 by “Dr. Beach,” or coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University in Miami.
What did Dr. Beach say about the popular Delnor-Wiggins Pass?
Leatherman released his list Thursday. Here’s what he said about Delnor-Wiggins, 11135 Gulf Shore Drive.
“This barrier island beach boasts of beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear Gulf waters,” Leatherman wrote in the news release.
“Activities include swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, shelling, and fishing. Wildlife in the park includes bald eagles, ospreys, and manatees. Pine trees provide welcome shade. The park is still recovering from Hurricane Ian in 2022 so some areas are still closed.”
What other beaches made the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Looking for a beach close home in Naples – Bonita Springs areas? Contact David at 239-285-1086 or David@DavidFlorida.com
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
Neapolitans believe Naples is an awesome place to live, and U.S. News & World Report agrees.
Naples ranks No. 1 in its annual Best Places to Live in the U.S., the only Florida city to make the top 10. The Southwest Florida city often rank high on various “best” lists by the national magazine and others, usually noted for its weather and quality of life.
“I love seeing sunshine almost every day,” said Mark Danni, founder and artistic director of TheatreZone, who’s lived in Naples for 22 years. “I love that Naples has a wide variety of live performing arts groups where Neapolitans can see so many different performing arts productions throughout the year.”
Naples in the past decade also has become more familiar as the Pickleball Capital of the World. The region in April again hosted the another U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. The very first championships were played in Naples in 2016.
What other Florida cities made the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Looking for a home in the Naples – Bonita Springs – Marco Island area? Contact David at 239-285-1086 or David@DavidFlorida.com
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Popular magazine Reader’s Digest highlighted several South Florida beaches in a February article titled “15 Best Beaches in Florida Locals Want to Keep Secret.”
One Collier County beach made the cut: Tigertail Beach on Marco Island.
What did Reader’s Digest say about Tigertail Beach?
Best for: Swimming and bird-watching
After you park your car and start walking toward the water ahead of you, you might ask yourself: Is this the beach? It certainly is “a beach,” but what you see from the parking lot is actually just a huge lagoon, full of birds and tidal pools. And yes, plenty of people set up camp right there! But if you walk just a few minutes past the lagoon (sometimes, depending on the tide, you’ll have to wade through), you’ll get to the real star: three miles of soft, wide sand, fiddler crabs and beautiful migratory shorebirds.
The author, Liz Zack, also recommends watching the sunset and then
grabbing a bite to eat at Sami’s, a local favorite that serves Italian dishes.
What other Southwest Florida beaches were included?
- Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel
- Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island
- Turner Beach, Captiva
- Lover’s Key State Park, near Fort Myers Beach
How Reader’s Digest chose its ‘Best Florida Beaches’
Read the full article with photos on naplesnews.com.
Contact David to find your new home in southwest Florida. at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
There’s a long way to go, but plans to rebuild the Naples Pier continue to move forward.
City Council heard an update on the multimillion-dollar project Tuesday, with the design plans now virtually 100% complete.
The pier, destroyed by Hurricane Ian, will be built stronger and taller, with new features, including more shaded areas and more seating to take in the Gulf views.
Here’s more to know from the brief update, shared at a workshop:
What’s the next step?
The city is developing the bid documents to meet the guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to ensure the project qualifies for reimbursement. The reimbursement could be as high as 90% for the eligible parts of construction tied to Ian.
Based on the latest estimates from the engineers, the project could cost up to $22.5 million, with contingencies.
More information can be found here: naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/naples-pier-approved-design
Read the full post on naplesnews.com.
Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086 to find your home in Naples, southwest Florida.
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.
