Sabal Bay filesHello Counselman et. Al.,
I am writing to submit additional detail and hopefully to get more information about some of the topics I
brought up during the East Naples Community Development Plan Public Workshop this week. My name
is Ryan Young and I am own and operate a local ecotour company called Rising Tide Explorers. Our
company is partnered with the Friends of Rookery Bay to provide educational ecotour programming and
financial support for the research, education, conservation, and stewardship efforts of the 110,000-acre
Rookery Bay National Estaurine Research Reserve that encompasses 40% of Collier County’s coastline,
primarily bordering East Naples.
The topic of my comments from our workshop involved the plans for constructing Greenways for non-
motorized transportation to connect some of our incredible natural recreation areas and provide
accessibility and ease of access to them. In past meetings it was deemed important that East Naples
have an identity and a brand. The reason I live in East Naples is because it provides me easy access to
some of Florida’s most beautiful natural areas for hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, camping, geocaching,
birding, wildlife viewing, photography, and venturing out into the endless amount of open space that
would take a lifetime to explore in its entirety. As East Naples develops its personality, I believe it would
be wise and vital to incorporate this fact and enhance our amenities that help our residents and visitors
utilize and appreciate these areas.
Several natural resources that are in the immediate area include the Rookery Bay Reserve and the
Picayune Strand State Forrest. Rookery Bay provides access to some of the best paddling trails in the
region including Shell Island Road and the Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park just to name a few. As the
restoration nears completion, the Picayune Strand is quickly becoming one of the most beautiful and
easily accessible natural areas of SWFL that is very close to town. Soon there will be 72 square miles of
backcountry roads, hiking trails, and mountain biking trails scattered throughout this beautiful place
located right off of Sabal Palm Rd. in East Naples.
Connecting these outdoor recreation opportunities by greenway will make this area even more
desirable to live, it will bring in additional business to help serve those seeking these opportunities, and
will separate East Naples by giving it it’s own personality and identity as the gateway to the outdoors
and the everglades. These greenways can connect Bayshore and the Rattlesnake Hammock Corridor,
Isle of Collier, Treviso Bay, Naples Manor, Lely, and many more all the way down to Fiddler’s Creek and
Isle of Capri allowing residents to move around the whole of East Naples though beautiful natural
pathways leading to further recreational opportunities and amenities.
After thorough research, I have found that there have already been proposals for the Naples Bay
Greenway, and an approved boardwalk/pathway from the original plans for the Isle of Capri Paddlecraft
Park on the Isle of Capri. I have also identified a way to connect the 2 while preserving ecosystem
function and increasing accessibility by converting the relics of Old Marco Road to greenway with few (if
any) needs for small bridge or culvert. I’ve been calling it the Rookery Bay Greenway which would
connect the Rookery Bay ELC to Shell Island Road and on to the Isle of Capri. I would be happy to share
the unique concept that I discovered to connect the end of Old Marco Rd to the Isle of Capri Paddlepark
which is inexpensive and widely used in the Netherlands upon further discussion. These can also easily
be connected to the Picayune Strand State Forrest via the existing paths on the inside of the canals
along Collier Blvd up to Sabal Palm Rd.
I’ve included a map with a (very) rough sketch of where this greenway might go which would feature
over 20 miles of unimpeded access to move across East Naples for nearly all of our residential areas and
commercial districts (i.e. Bayshore Arts District) with destinations including Picayune Strand, the
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Shell Island Road, and the Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park. To
have the opportunity to provide this kind of access to these kinds of recreational opportunities while
also connecting residential neighborhoods to commercial areas with local business by natural pathways
is a very unique opportunity not afforded by most areas in SWFL. This concept would change East
Naples in wonderful ways and brand it with a new personality as the gateway to SW Florida’s great
outdoors. It would bring in unique local business to fill the commercial deficit highlighted by the current
concepts, and make this area the best of Naples.
I dream about living in a place where my future children can ride their bikes to their friend’s house
without having to worry about them riding along a highway. I image they can take their bikes down to
the paddlepark and go kayaking and fishing for the day amongst the best mangrove tunnel systems in
the area without ever seeing Collier Blvd or US-41. I imaging that a family could hop on a greenway and
head into the Picayune for a day of hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing on the beautiful
backcountry roads. I would be thrilled if I could take a long stroll or ride my bike down to Bayshore and
patronize the local business that are helping to change that area for the better! As an area that is
known for health and fitness along with a beautiful landscape…I think it only appropriate to help our
residents further utilize, access, and appreciate these areas with a project that has a relatively low cost-
factor with a much larger upside benefit. Upon completion of a project of this nature, East Naples
would be the best place for active retirees, families, young professionals, and more to enjoy all that SW
Florida has to offer. The crown jewel of SWFL’s outdoor culture is yet to be realized, and the potential
for East Naples is unmatched.
I hope this helps to better communicate the concept and share my ideas for this area. I would like to
learn more about existing efforts and provide any assistance I can in making this dream a reality. I
would greatly appreciate it if I can be put in touch with the person best suited for helping me answer
further questions and identify next steps in bringing these concepts to the surface in pursuit of making
them reality. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, for a great planning workshop last
week, and for all that you’re doing to make this city live up to it’s potential.
Cheers,
Ryan Young