FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 25, 2004) – The City of Fort Myers was recently awarded $100,000 in grant assistance from the Department of Environmental Protection's Land and Conservation Fund, to acquire property to expand Roberto Clemente Park. Clemente Park is located along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and currently houses the Black History Museum in the historic Williams Academy. The City has been working for more than a year at expanding the park into a recreational hub for the Dunbar community. The City acquired all but one parcel needed to expand the park and now can proceed with plans to finalize the conceptual design and construct the recreational and cultural center envisioned by residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The City through partnership with The Bonita Bay Group, a Bonita Springs-based developer, purchased five parcels, totaling 3.72 acres. The Bonita Bay Group assisted the City by contributing $350,000 to acquire the parcels and the City matched those funds for a total purchase price of $646,652. The Bonita Bay Group also assisted in assembling the parcels after they were purchased for the urban park.

The $100,000 grant will assist the City in acquiring one additional parcel at the northwest corner of MLK and Henderson. Funds from previous land sales would be used in conjunction with the grant for the purchase of this parcel, demolition of existing structures, and construction of the expanded park.
The planned expansion for Clemente Park, which is still in the conceptual stages, may include a community hall, sports facilities, pedestrian pathways and sitting areas, which would serve as an anchor for community gatherings, cultural events and recreation. Ultimately, the plan may also include pedestrian connections between Clemente and Dunbar Parks.