Samantha Carlson
•8/14/2026
A plan to turn the long-vacant Seafarer's property on Fort Myers Beach into a new public beach access point is moving forward after a debate over what kind of parking should go there. The Lee County Tourist Development Council on Thursday approved a motion to move forward a $71,950 tourist development tax funding request from Lee County Parks & Recreation. The proposal will now be placed on a future agenda before the Lee Board of County Commissioners. The money would go toward improvements at the county-owned Seafarer's property, including 29 public golf cart parking spaces, seven bicycle racks with capacity for about 56 bicycles, and a pay kiosk. The project would also include a drinking fountain and the relocation of a Lee County Sheriff's Office trailer to the property. Parks & Recreation Director Mack Young told the Tourist Development Council the trailer would provide a visible law enforcement presence, serve as an information source for visitors and support emergency operations. The total estimated project cost is $163,200. Young said $56,250 in Lee County funds are available for the project. He said the Lee County Sheriff's Office has $35,000 available to transport its trailer to the property. Parks & Recreation requested the remaining $71,950 from the TDC. Much of the discussion Thursday centered on the decision to use the property for golf cart parking rather than parking for cars. TDC members questioned whether 29 golf cart spaces would best address parking demand on Fort Myers Beach. Young said there would be no car parking included in the current plan. He said the county's thinking is that providing another transportation option could encourage people to use golf carts and bicycles instead of bringing cars to the beach. The golf cart parking would not be free. Young said a pay kiosk would be installed. The property is across from Crescent Beach, where Young said there is a path providing access to the beach. One TDC member said he would be more supportive of the project if the property provided regular vehicle parking while also allowing golf carts. TDC members also discussed whether the design could be adjusted in the future depending on parking demand. The Seafarer's property has been part of the redevelopment conversation on Fort Myers Beach for more than a decade. Lee County purchased the Seafarer's property in 2010. The old Seafarer's Mall was demolished in 2011. Young said the site remained undeveloped because of funding. He said past and current uses have included vehicle storage and a staging area for beach construction projects. Parks & Recreation now wants to turn the property into a public space designed to improve beach access. "This project is about more than improving a vacant piece of property. It's about unlocking the potential of a premier beachfront location by investing," Young told the council. The request was expected to be presented jointly by Parks & Recreation and the town of Fort Myers Beach, according to comments made during the meeting. The town was not represented Thursday, and officials acknowledged some questions could not be answered without its representatives present. The TDC ultimately approved the motion to move the request forward. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV
