The Gift Of A New Park At Christmas

Over twenty years ago, the men and women who sat on the Marco Island City Council would take a vote which two decades later would allow a community and its residents to enjoy one of the finest public parks in Southwest Florida. 

The Veterans Community Park would finally reach its full potential on December 3, 2022 when City Manager Michael McNees turned the microphone over to City Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz who enthusiastically welcomed residents and guests to “their new park” to enjoy for the years to come.

“This is a wonderful asset to our great community which has patiently waited to walk amongst these improvements that once was a vacant field. It truly is a spectacular gem in the middle of our island,” said Brechnitz prior to the ceremony dedicating the park.

Carlos Portu, who has chaired the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, would thank all those who had been part of the planning for the eventual improvements. That planning began with the first citizen Master Plan Committee for Veterans Community Park in 2008 and 14 years later would result in the park the community has today.

It was ironic that the first official event to be held at the newly dedicated park would be the ceremonial community Christmas Tree Lighting and Celebration, held by the volunteer Christmas Island Style Committee. That same committee had gone to the city in 2008 to seek permission to hold their event in what would become today’s park after the popular event had outgrown their initial home at the Marco Town Center Shopping Plaza.

Wanda Burson, Chairperson of Christmas Island Style, welcomed the crowd as for the next hour, families enjoyed watching performances of various dance and musical groups as a lead up to the highlight of the evening – the countdown for the lighting of the Christmas Tree. Lead by Burson and Master of Ceremony, Jimmy Long, the crowd would count down from ten until the tree burst into its full glory to the delight of the overflow crowd.

Various nonprofits and others surrounded the event and offered the sale of various refreshments and food items for sale.

Attendees would then enjoy a two-hour concert sponsored by Parks and Recreation featuring the Joel Fry band. Families enjoyed the music and chatted amongst themselves under the stars and perfect weather.