New native trees at John Yarbrough Linear Park aim to improve water quality

John Yarbrough Linear Park in Fort Myers has been enhanced with the planting of 47 native trees, funded by a more than $15,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service. “They all have green bags, water bags around the bottom," said Fort Myers resident Jeff Thompson. "It's kind of fun for us to see, you know, when they come out and water and how long it takes for it to go away." The trees are expected to provide more than shade. “The trees will be able to intercept the runoff, and they would able to give a buffer mimicking natural systems,” said Maria Romero, principal planner with Lee County Natural Resources. The University of South Florida's Water Institute has reported that the water quality in the canal running alongside the park is currently good. The newly planted trees, located south of Danley Drive, are intended to add natural protection to prevent runoff. “We would love to get another grant in the future and finish the project as we intended at the beginning and have all this area also planted with native trees so we can have shade in the whole length of the park,” Romero said. Thompson shared his thoughts on the project. “It's interesting to hear that they're all native trees," he said. "It's great to know that, you know, it will help keep the water clean." 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.