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.
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.
Mark H. Bickel | Ricardo Rolón
Naples Daily News
With another snowbird and tourist season about to begin in Southwest Florida, here’s a look from our drone at one of the region’s most popular parks, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples.
The video was produced by Naples Daily News drone pilot Ricardo Rolon in July. The drone traveled along the shoreline approximately 1.5 miles from the tip of Wiggins Pass and south past the state park, and into where private condominiums begin. Rolon said he flew the drone at a maximum altitude of 375 feet, but primarily stayed between 100-200 feet of altitude.
You are getting a view of the beach during quieter times. In the coming weeks the park and the beach will be filled with visitors and locals who will be there to soak up the sun and enjoy the amazing views.
The video also provides a view of the beach area nine months after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, with only a few indications of that storm’s aftermath.
Read more and watch the video of Delnor-Wiggins State Park on naplesnews.com.
Find a home in southwest Florida. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
A passenger flight flew from Naples to Miami in 1957. How much did it cost?
J. Kyle Foster | Naples Daily News
The Naples Airport Authority has hired a firm to study whether to relocate the airport.
If the airport moves one day, it will vacate a space that it has called home for 80 years when it began as a military airfield.
Here’s a few things to know about Naples Airport.
How big is the airport?
Naples Airport covers one square mile in East Naples is just west of Airport-Pulling Road. Residential homes run all along North Road and along Davis Boulevard. The 140-acre Gordon River Greenway just north of the airport and 15-acre Baker Park just west.
The airport is home to 360 aircraft, with a significant increase during seasonal months. More than 100,000 takeoffs and landings were made at the airport last year and more than 200,000 passengers were served in 2022.
Find out who uses the Naples Airport, and how it is funded on naplesnews.com
Find a home in southwest Florida. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Mark H. Bickel, Ricardo Rolón | Naples Daily News
Note to readers: The Naples Daily News and News-Press drone pilot Ricardo Rolon is looking at some of the unique and noteworthy places in Southwest Florida from the sky. He has recently produced drone videos of Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Matlacha/Pine Island and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. In his latest venture, Rolon flew above the S.S. Jolley Bridge that brings thousands of visitors to Marco Island every year.
- S.S. Jolley Bridge is a bridge located in Collier County, Florida connecting Marco Island with the mainland in Naples.
- The Jolley Bridge opened on Dec. 13, 1969 as the Marco River Bridge and was the second vehicular bridge connecting to Marco Island. The first was the original span of the Goodland Bridge built in 1938.
- The cost to build the bridge was $1.5 million and it took 15 months to complete.
- Spans 1,595 feet and is 55 feet high.
- The bridge reduced the drive to Naples from 28 to 16 miles.
- Tolls, were originally $0.40 per car (later reduced to $0.20), were eliminated in 1979.
- In 2011, a second parallel span was built next to the original to provide two additional travel lanes. Today, southbound traffic uses the newer span, and northbound traffic uses the original span.
- The Jolley Bridge is named for former Collier County Judge Seward Stokley (S.S). Jolley, who served from 1935 until 1959
View the video and historic photo slideshow on naplesnews.com
Find a home in southwest Florida. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
