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Lee County leaders, FDOT and state partners cut ribbon on Matlacha Community Park and reopen Little Pine Island Bridge
Summary
Lee County and state officials celebrated Matlacha's 100th anniversary with a ribbon cutting for the restored Matlacha Community Park and art building and the reopening of the Little Pine Island Bridge, highlighting Hurricane Ian recovery and cross-agency partnerships.
LEE COUNTY
Lee County officials, state transportation representatives and local partners gathered in Matlacha to cut the ribbon on the restored Matlacha Community Park and art building and to mark the reopening of the Little Pine Island Bridge, an event leaders tied to the community's 100th anniversary.
County leaders said the projects — the county's repairs to the community center and art building and FDOT's replacement of the Little Pine Island Bridge — are visible signs of the area's recovery from Hurricane Ian and of long-running partnerships among local, state and federal agencies. "We're not gathered together just to celebrate the completion of a bridge. We're celebrating resilience, partnership, and the strength of a community," Wayne Gaither, director of FDOT's Southwest Area Office, said.
The county emphasized the projects' role in restoring daily life and supporting local businesses and residents. "This park has been here for you guys through some of the toughest days, and I'm so excited to see what it will be for you through some of the brightest days," Commissioner Hamman said, recounting the storm's impact and the community's recovery after Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022.
Mack Young, director of Lee County Parks and Recreation, invited attendees to tour the renovated art building and community center and thanked county staff and contractors for the work. Facilities director Ehab named contractors Rykon Construction (community center repairs) and Infinite Construction (fishing pier), and said the restored facilities "are the core of the culture and daily life of Matlacha."
Lee County DOT Deputy Director Jillian Shuler described the bridge project as technically complex and credited a phased design-build delivery and a long list of engineering and construction partners, including Ajax Paving, Manhattan Road and Bridge, Guymond Construction and Andrews Site Work. Shuler said the county has replaced "over 11 bridges" in its recovery effort.
State Sen. Jonathan Morton thanked county and state staff for coordinating recovery resources and recalled early emergency operations work in Tallahassee immediately after the storm. Several speakers also acknowledged support from Governor Ron DeSantis and members of the congressional delegation.
The ceremony closed with a photo opportunity and an official ribbon cutting. Organizers encouraged residents to use the park and art facilities and to consider the projects milestones in Matlacha's next century.
