Fort Myers Forestry Center To Open Green Pathway

Ideas For Home Gardeners At Forestry Center

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA -- The Caloosahatchee Forestry Center will get a 'green' pathway behind its administrative building this Thursday that will soon offer visitors ideas to landscape their yards while providing an environmentally friendly amenity to the center.

The pathway is pervious concrete (click the link to learn more) that will be installed this Thursday, July 15. The concrete allows water to move through it and meets stormwater regulations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The path winds behind a sign at the center that shows current local and state wildfire numbers. The path connects to Manatee Park. We will partner with park staff to promote the new area when it is complete. Center staff will plant Florida-friendly ornamentals and other plants in the coming months. The plants and accompanying interpretive signs will help create an interactive area for residents to learn how they can landscape their yards with vegetation that looks beautiful and is adapted to wildfire. The area will also provide visitors information about center activities in our state forests.

All materials and labor were donated by several local businesses to promote the pervious concrete product. The district did not pay for any of the work. Officials from several local agencies will visit the center on Thursday to learn about the product.

The Forestry Center is on State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard) in Fort Myers, about two miles east of I-75.