Fort Myers will show designs for a renovated Dunbar Park basketball court and a new mural on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Residents can see the plans and give feedback.

Dunbar Park could get a renovated basketball court and a new mural. The city of Fort Myers will show the first designs for the work at a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is running the meeting. It is the second public meeting on the park’s improvements. Residents can look at the conceptual designs, ask staff questions and give feedback, the city said Tuesday.

The meeting

  • When: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18
  • Where: Lee County Black History Society, 1936 Henderson Ave.
  • Cost: free and open to the public
  • What: conceptual designs for Phase 2 of the Dunbar Park improvements

Dunbar Park is at 3101 Indian St., in the Dunbar neighborhood.

What is planned

The work is being done in stages. Phase 1 focused on the playground, the city said. Phase 2 “could bring a renovated basketball court and a new mural to the park.”

The city has not published a cost for Phase 2 or a date for the work to start. The designs shown on Nov. 18 are conceptual, so they can still change.

Who pays for it

Phase 2 is paid for by the city’s parks bond. Voters approved the general obligation bond in November 2024. More than 67% voted yes, according to the city’s notice.

The bond lets the city spend up to $75 million on park improvements and on buying land for new green spaces. The money is tied to the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The city’s 2024 G.O. Bond page says the plan covers improvements at 18 parks and facilities over 10 years. “Dunbar Park Connectivity Improvements” is No. 9 on its list of proposed projects. The same page says Fort Myers had 7.8 acres of parks per 1,000 residents when the bond was proposed.

The reconstruction of the Golf View Park building and pool is also on that list. Demolition of the existing Golfview Pool facilities is due to start Dec. 1, ahead of a planned renovation, the city said Nov. 6. The details are on our parks and trails page.

What it means for you

  • If you use the park, Nov. 18 is the time to say what you want from the court and the mural, before the designs are final.
  • The meeting is free and open to the public.
  • The city has not announced any closure of Dunbar Park for the Phase 2 work.
  • Questions about the parks bond go to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, through City Hall at 239-321-7000.

We will report the final designs, the cost and the construction dates when the city publishes them.

Sources