Several beach parking closures begin Sept. 8 as restoration work ramps up in Lee County

Several Lee County beach parks will close parking lots beginning Sept. 8 as crews start Hurricane Ian restoration projects expected to take about 11 months. The Lee County government is reminding visitors to plan for parking after Labor Day. The projects are focused on restoring and replacing amenities damaged by Hurricane Ian, such as parking lots, boardwalks and restrooms. According to Lee County officials, work is beginning now because the process to obtain federal funding reimbursement for the projects has come through, which means local taxpayer dollars will not have to be used. Although numerous beach parking lots will be closed, beaches will remain open throughout the projects. The county included the following information on the sites where work is being done: Fort Myers Beach county sites: Bowditch Point Regional Park (50 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931): The site will close Tuesday, Sept. 8, with construction fencing installed around the property. No parking will be available. Pedestrian access to the beach will be maintained. Pedestrian access will be open along the south side of the park property during construction (near the Pink Shell Resort). Improvements include repairs to park buildings, boardwalks, parking areas, sidewalks, picnic areas, beach access points, trails and other amenities A dredging operation is also planned, but that will not impact the beach itself, which can be accessed by walking from the beach to the south. Lynn Hall Memorial Park (950 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931): Work is ongoing at this popular site, with construction having started in April. Anticipated completion date is late April or early May 2027, at which time the upgrades to park amenities such as ADA-accessible boardwalks, picnic shelters, landscaping, lighting, signage and an elevated restroom facility will open to enhance accessibility and visitor experience. This project also includes a parking lot with 146 spaces (with 10 of those being dedicated motorcycle parking), which will become available when the park reopens next spring. Bonita Beach county sites: Little Hickory Island Beach Park (26082 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs — also known as Beach Access No. 10): The parking lot will close Tuesday, Sept. 8, with construction fencing installed around the property while crews restore structures, wooden boardwalks and pavilions. The restroom building destroyed by the hurricane will be replaced. Portable restrooms currently located inside the park will be relocated outside the construction fence closer to the road so they remain available to beachgoers. Bonita Beach Park (27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs): The site will close Tuesday, Sept. 8, with construction fencing installed around the property. Primary pedestrian access to the beach will be at Bonita Beach Access No. 1. Crews will repair a county office building, restroom and other amenities such as the wooden boardwalks and pavilions. Bonita Beach Access 1 (27890 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs): This site will remain open until November, when restoration work will begin and its parking lot will close for construction. For beachgoers interested in visiting the north end of Fort Myers Beach all the way south to Lovers Key, riding LeeTran is the best option. Park at no cost at the Beach Park & Ride, 11101 Summerlin Square Drive, which offers more than 125 free parking spaces with bus service to the beach. The Beach Trolley Route 490 provides rides from the Beach Park & Ride – with direct service to Crescent Beach Family Park – about every 30 minutes. The fare is half that of a non-beach-going LeeTran ride at 75 cents each way. Or, beachgoers can purchase a $2 all-day pass. Once on the beach, Route 410 traverses from Bowditch Point to Lovers Key. Use the Lee Fare App in advance or pay cash onboard. Visit www.RideLeeTran.com. For beachgoers visiting the county’s beach sites south in the Bonita area, LeeTran’s Ultra On Demand service offers a convenient transportation solution. ULTRA On Demand provides connections between the center of Bonita Springs and Bonita Beach Park, while continuing to offer pickup and drop-off anywhere within the ULTRA service zone. LeeTran’s Ultra On Demand will provide pickups and drop-offs by reservation through the ULTRA app, originating from the designated pickup location in the parking lot at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road. The free parking to catch Ultra is in the shopping center lot at 3300 Bonita Beach Road SW. Click here or download LeeTran’s ULTRA app to begin booking rides. You can visit Lee County's Parks Project Information Tool on its website for updates on the beach projects and other Lee County Parks & Recreation projects. 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