“County commissioners Tuesday awarded a $2.3 million state-funded contract to Spectrum Contracting  of Naples to perform the work and awarded a $216,000 engineering contract to supervise a shoreline stabilization project on Sanibel Causeway Island B.
It is part of a project approved by commissioners in December that is expected to cost $8.5 million and, for some, cause significant loss of a beach experience. Scores of trees have already been removed.”

The Sanibel Causeway has been a focal point for visitors and locals for years. Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva have plenty of beaches that someone can go to and enjoy themselves at. So what is the big deal about the Causeway? It is the only beach in this area that allows you to pull your vehicle right up on the beach, hangout and sunbathe, and then stay to watch the beautiful sunset that you get at the Causeway. Commissioner Brian Hamman said that will no longer be an option due to the structured parking. Their goal is to “restore the beaches and control future deterioration” by adding structured parking lots, restroom buildings, and new fees for visitors. The Sanibel Causeway already has a $6 toll to get on the Island. Adding more fees on top of that seems a little bit suspicious. This project seems to be more about the money than the care for the beaches. Fort Myers is continuously growing and growing. The area around FGCU and Alico is growing rapidly, A TopGolf is being built off Colonial, and Fort Myers Beach just broke ground for the Margaritaville Resort. That is all great. However, one thing that should be left untouched is the Sanibel Causeway. There will be a significant loss of beach experience by “creating a new parking plan and erecting permanent buildings.” Lee County has cut down the Australian Pines due to them being invasive. They plan to replace them with other native trees. There will be about 170 or so parking spots available. There will be one entrance one exit on both A & B. Their plan is to put a parking lot on each side of the Causeway, they have not decided whether it will be paved or shell rock. They are bringing in sand from a factory in Naples and somewhere up north. The parking lot and the “beach” will be divided by vegetation. There will be boardwalks that get you across the vegetation to get to the beach. The ability to drive on the beach is being taken away completely with no plan of compromising. The closest you will get to driving on the beach is parking in a spot that is closest to the sand, which takes away the point of the Causeway that we all know and love. Being born and raised just 10 minutes down one road from the Causeway, this means a lot to me. Not only does it mean a lot to me, but it matters to a lot of locals and visitors of all ages. I’m not sure if anything can be done about this, but it sure is worth a try. (UPDATE 8/26/21: nothing will stop them from moving on with this project, but they are still taking suggestions on how to make it better and more enjoyable). Please join me in this fight to save the Sanibel Causeway and stop the creation of parking plans by signing this petition. If you want to do more than signing a petition, join me in sending emails to our County Commissioners such as Kevin Ruane, Cecil Pendergrass, and Brian Hamman. Thank you! 

UPDATE (8/26/21): I have attended the Lee County public meeting on this topic, and I gained a large amount of knowledge on their plans with the Causeway. I have updated the information in the original petition explanation above. Please continue to sign and share this petition! Hopefully it continues to gain traction and catch the eyes of the higher ups so that we can hopefully try to keep our lovely Causeway!