A Wonderful Vision Becomes A Reality…Just In Time For Christmas

I have been pretty open and honest with all of you over the years I’ve been here, since 1986 when I first discovered this little piece of paradise we all call home now, whether you stay here fulltime or for just a few months at a time. The amount of days aren’t as important as the appreciation of the wonderment of this magnificent little spit of sand here on the Gulf of Mexico.

Over the many years I’ve been here I’ve had the honor and privilege to contribute my time on a number of committees and belong to some great organizations on the island. Many of you have also gotten to know me through those affiliations or through my writings in this publication and through that of another local newspaper.

The friendships and acquaintances I’ve made during that time were some of the most important of my life and I will be forever grateful for the honor you’ve bestowed upon me through your trust and friendships over these many years. I’ve always considered your trust to be one of the greatest gifts that one human being may bestow upon another. You certainly can’t place a monetary value on either one of those two entities in life, so I hope you’ll agree with me that neither should be taken lightly or squandered, for I promise you I never will.

Last Saturday evening as I sat in the audience with many of you at the dedication of the newly completed Veterans Community Park my thoughts would wander back to the early days of cityhood when our elected representatives made the historic choice to purchase the land which the park today sits upon.

We were barely a couple of years old as a self-governing political entity within Collier County when that decision was made. That vote took great courage and foresight for such a young fledgling community, but they did it and we should be proud of them. Only John Soldenwagner remains from that first council, and while doing interviews of individuals for the 25th Anniversary of the creation of the City of Marco Island, he and his wife, Carol, would be gracious enough to grant me an interview.

They would both point out the wonderful changes in the community, especially those dealing with the pleasing nature of the appearances of where we live. Both would mention the work being done in regard to the magnificent park which became the center of attention last Saturday evening.

One of those committees I’ve had the distinct pleasure to serve upon was the original citizens design committee which ultimately became the basic footprint for what we observe today at Veterans Community Park. The committee was a wide-ranging group of citizens who spent countless hours of dedicated service over several months with Kimley-Horn, the Design-Engineering Firm that has been intricately involved throughout the 14 years which the park, as well as the Veterans Memorial, had been under careful development, another committee I was proud to serve upon with so many other great individuals.

Those committees were far from being unanimous in their visions, but what committee ever is? They would be diligent in their deliberations and through their collaborative efforts and abilities to find common ground the final result would be an outstanding set of products which our community should be extremely proud. 

Over the many years since the original purchase of the property, that vision would soon come into focus. First when the Community Christmas Tree was lit in 2008 and large crowds would continue to gather each year since that first Tree Lighting and Ceremony and the focus of being a true community became clearer as each year passed. 

The Farmers Market would be another community event which would grow in popularity over the years since its early beginnings. In fact both the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Celebration along with the Community Farmers’ Market would rank as the top two events held on the island in a recent Citizen Survey by large margins. Residents and visitors alike would continue to see the value of the community we all live in, many returning to put down roots as time went on.

Other popular events would include the Rotary Seafood and Music Festival, the Marco Island Boxing Club Exhibition Matches, recent car shows, Veteran and Memorial Day Services, YMCA Fun Fair, Arts and Craft Shows, City Concerts and other smaller events, once again continuing to create that wonderful sense of community.

Last Saturday evening helped culminate that vision I’ve always held in my heart and hoped would spring from that empty lot back 22 years ago for the community. 

A huge thank you to all that have worked on the project. From the first council that had the vision and foresight to make that historic vote, to the several design committees and to those that have and continue to serve on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, to the Marco Island Community Parks Foundation and to Erik Brechnitz, who had the vision to bring that Foundation from an idea into reality.

But most of all, to the citizens of this great place we call home for their support of this project.