In the Know: Latest plans for recycling center, regional park in Estates

Q: Do you happen to know what is going on at Immokalee Road and 39th Avenue Northeast by the fairgrounds? There is construction on the corner and work on the road.

— Susan Horvath Canfield‎, Naples

Q: When is the new recycling plant opening?

— David Beal, Waterways

A: The construction on the corner of the Collier County Fairgrounds property at Immokalee Road and 39th Avenue Northeast is a project to provide potable water service to two long-awaited county projects: the Northeast Recycle Drop-off Center and Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park in northern Golden Gate Estates.

Both projects are on the eastern edge of the fairgrounds on 39th Avenue Northeast. That property east of the north-south leg of Immokalee Road and north of Oil Well Road was formerly used for citrus groves. The county purchased the land 15 years ago.

In the planning stages for many years, the $7.3 million Northeast Recycle Drop-off Center is nearing completion. Construction started last year on the county’s seventh recycling center.

“There will most likely be a soft opening of the Northeast Recycling Drop-off Center at the end of August. The new center will operate much like the other recycling drop-off centers. It will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday,” said Margie Hapke, a public information coordinator for the county.

The recycling center will provide residents living in this fast-growing area of the county a safe and convenient way to drop off used items such as tires, batteries, motor oil, paints, appliances, electronics, light bulbs and chemical household wastes. This service helps divert recyclable items from the landfill and protects the environment from illegal dumping of these hazardous wastes. Similar to the county’s other drop-off centers, the new plant won’t process materials but will collect, sort and ship the items to be recycled, Hapke said.

Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park

Q: Hey, Tim! Are you able to give me an update on the Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park that's being built next to Palmetto Ridge? Last I recall I believe it was wrapped up in funding problems.

— Dylan Detweiler, Golden Gate Estates

A: The first phase of Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park is planned on 59 acres east of the new recycling center. An additional 97 acres with a large lake is available for a second phase, which would be south of the initial phase, north of Palmetto Ridge High School and east of Waterways gated residential community. This is the lake, unofficially known as Big Jim Bass Lake, that briefly opened in 2012 as a public fishing hole but then closed five years ago because of liability concerns.

Although originally designed more than a decade ago before the recession stalled the project, the park is still in its design stage because the county bowed to public opinion and went back to the drawing board. The first phase of the local park project remains on schedule for construction bids and permits next year, with an opening as early as late 2020.

“The 60 percent design has been approved. Construction is anticipated to begin (in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019),” said Daniel Christenbury, a county public information coordinator. “Construction is anticipated to take 18 months to complete. The 100 percent plans are estimated to be ready for approval in March 2019. The total cost of the park is estimated at $46 million.”

The local park tentatively will have four soccer fields, two baseball-softball fields, two outdoor basketball courts, two tennis courts, six pickleball courts and two pavilions for concessions, according to the master site plan prepared this May by Q. Grady Minor & Associates of Bonita Springs.

The most recent plans also show an aquatic center, a playground, a dog park, a community center, a 180-by-300-foot event lawn and a winding,10-foot-wide multiuse path with numerous picnic pavilions.

Similar to the aquatic center that opened last month in Eagles Lakes Community Park in East Naples, this new water park will have water slides, a competition pool, a family pool, a wading pool and other amenities.

The county also still plans to build a wastewater treatment plant east of the regional park on agricultural land it owns north of the Orange Blossom Ranch residential community.

At this point, funding for the new park is tied to a sales tax increase that will be decided by voters in November. If approved, the county sales tax will increase from 6 to 7 percent. The increase would end in seven years or after it brings in $490 million, whichever occurs first. 

The park is just one of many county projects that would be funded by the 1 percent increase in the sales tax. Nearly $200 million would be used to expand several major roads and intersections in the county and to build or replace 22 bridges in Golden Gate Estates. Other projects include building repairs and expansions such as improving hurricane shelters and creating new ambulance substations and Sheriff's Office facilities.

In the meantime, while infrastructure work is being completed at the intersection of Immokalee Road and 39th Avenue Northeast, expect the intermittent closing of both northbound and southbound lanes of Immokalee Road. Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling in this area because of excess water on the road there.

The road’s southbound right turn lane onto 39th Avenue will be partially closed for about two months from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting, as crews work on the sidewalk area next to the force main. Drivers needing to turn right will still be permitted to do so. Advance warning signs and barricades are in place to assist motorists.

Have a local question? Email it with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com. Tim Aten’s "In the Know" is published every Monday and Wednesday. Follow In the Know on Facebook now at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.

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