Coalition for Eco-Recreation
Minutes of theSeptember2, 2006 Meeting
Called to order;10:00 a.m.380 Riverview Drive, La Belle. (Margaret England’s home)
The following participated in the meeting
Margaret England, Chair / Mike Reed / Kira NewmanPeter Newman / John Reed / Andrew Newman
Jackie Foster / Meredith Marcum / Marti Daltry
Faye Reed
Old Business
La BelleNaturePark(
Maintenance;Today, the ‘Potato Roundup’ put a dent in the air potato population at the Park entrance. A small but determined group of volunteers came out early to battle the vine. Marti talked to Mary Ruth Prouty about getting vendor-approved items for the grant she has been working with for the Park. The vendors are limited to a Florida Approved Vendor List. Mari suggested that a different grant source be used for the gazebo project. Other items for Park improvements were put on the list for grant funding. They are; split-rail fencing around the proposed gazebo, the gazebo itself, and replacingthe entrance sign.
Publicity;Today’s ‘Potato Roundup’ was covered by, Kristin Hunter, of the Caloosa Belle newspaper. Margaret presented the Oxbow Power Point presentation to Kiwanis. We need to present the power point program to other community organizations.
Area; Margaret’s meeting with Owen Luckey to find out the definition of land boundaries near the Park was postponed.
Security:Discussion of a neighborhood watch for the Park was tabled.
Bicycle Paths
Partnering;More discussions about bicycle paths for the La Belle area have been taking place. Margaret said that Linda McVey has talked to BonitaBay (Mitch Hutchcraft); they are in very supportive of bicycling for recreation. Linda said that Vince Cautero will be talking with her when he begins the part of the county’s comprehensive plan that includes bicycling paths.
Trails
Goodno-Sears;Margret said that the Goodno-Sears project didn’t get on the September Greenways and Trails meeting agenda. Ron Zimberly will go to the Dec.-Jan. meeting to support the Goodno-Sears Greenway proposal. Ron told Margret that the area must be designated as a Green-Way before a “Rails to Trails” access will be allowed.A copy of the “Goodno Historical Recreation Trail: A feasibility study for Hendry County, August 1999, prepared by Ashton, Ashton, Ashton, & Associates, Inc., Gainesville, FL, (352) 495-7449” was passed around for ideas.
New Business
La BelleNaturePark(
Security; Margaret voiced her concern over dogs running loose in the Park. We agree that the entrance sign should include a notice for dog owners to keep their dogs on a lease and to clean up droppings. The new security system now has one camera in use.
Partnering; Mike Reed discussed his updated plan for his Boy Scout Eagle project at the Park. His interestturned away from the city boat dock sign because of the safety and permitting issues involved. His new focus is on the installationof the Kiosk/Gazebo at the Park entrance. Mike will discuss plans with Marty since she is in the grant writing phase for these items.
Oxbow Restoration; Margaret said, after discussions with John Capece, that the oxbow restoration my need to be switched to “wetland restoration”. With this approach, cattails could be thinned, exotics taken out, and a literal zone created for a small water flow-through for kayaks. Margaret added that we still don’t know the legal description of the oxbow and definitions of those areas need to be made by the City with other government agencies so that grant writing will become clearer.
Maintenance; Peter will try to remove the strangler fern growing in the center of the old oak tree. John Reed suggested a wick application of Roundup to control the air potato in the Park.
Publicity; Margaret said, Maria Ramos asked for the oxbow education project proposal for next year.
Coalition for Eco-Recreation (
Contact information;The telephone number for contacting the Coalition will not be the same number as River Watchbut will be (863) 674-0695, instead. The mailing address for the Coalition will not be the River Watch address in Ft.Myers, but instead, will be the River Watch Labelle address, P.O. Box2199, LaBelle, FL 33975.Margaret said that she is getting e-mail through the website.
C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir
Eco-recreation development;Margaret said that she knows of a recreation plan for the C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir project south west of La Belle. The county owns land south of the project.
Adjourned; At 11:00a.m.
Next Meeting;10 a.m.Saturday Oct.28th, 2006, at Margaret England’s home.
Important dates to remember
First Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association River Watch meeting (alternating between a Ft.Myers and La Belle location, see
Second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., La Belle area Bicycling Committee (LABPAC) meeting (Barron Library).
Third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Hendry/La Belle Recreation Board meeting (Rec. Dept. on Cowboy Way).
September 8, 2006, FloridaInternationalUniversity students visit.
September 9, 2006, 9:00 a.m., Caloosa Regional Committee of the Audubon Society meets at Corkscrew.
September 16-17, 2006, First ever Fisheating Creek/Glades County Migratory Bird Count.
October 7, 2006, CRCA Golf tournament.
October 10, 2006, 6:30 p.m. Hendry/LaBelle Recreation Board meeting at Recreation Dept. on Cowboy Way.
October 28, 2006, at 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., La BelleNaturePark Clean Up.
October 28, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., Coalition for Eco-Recreation meeting (380 Riverview Drive, La Belle).
November 19, 2006, River Watch Bicycle Ride.
December 2, 2006, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., Service day in conjunction with free pancake breakfast?
December 2, 2006, 11:00 a.m., Coalition of Eco-Recreation meeting at T.B.A.
January 20, 2007, Arbor day. (Cooperative event with the Division of Forestry, Health Department, SFWMD)
February 10, 2007, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., La BelleNaturePark Clean Up.
February 10, 2007, 10:00 a.m., Coalition of Eco-Recreation meeting at T.B.A.