Northeast corner of Corkscrew Road and US-41
Since the Village purchased the property in 2018, various discussions have taken place with the public and with architects about acceptable options. The 30 acres south of the Estero River will remain a protected environmental area which will not be developed following the Council's vote to rezone the property from mixed-use to a public park. This rezoning ensures that it cannot be sold off for commercial use in the future. The land south of the river is a natural beauty. There are mature trees of several types, together with a wetland area and a section home to gopher tortoises.
Within this area is the historic Happehatchee Center property which refers to a small but very significant 4.5-acre nature preserve along the Estero River. It was donated to the Village of Estero by Ellen Peterson for permanent preservation and public use. Environmentalist Ellen Peterson used her home and the location as an eco-spiritual retreat and nature education center. The preserve offers many interesting features, not least some very rare plants that are worth examining. The natural area will offer a peaceful natural environment for everyone to enjoy.
Work is well advanced on the site's nature trails and is approximately 80 percent complete. An attractive open fence along US-41 and Corkscrew Road also will provide the property's boundary.
Following
- the installation of walking paths,
- the removal of the temporary gravel road used by vehicles in the development process. This will ensure the wetland area remains intact.
- replacement of the old swing bridge with a new 10-foot-wide bridge over the Estero River. This connects to an 8-foot, ADA-accessible, porous multi-use path on the southern side.
- the installation of Old-Florida-styled restrooms on the north side near the main car park
- the preparation of the car park with 85 spaces available
- bike racks
- access drive/entrance
- decorative fencing will be on the park's perimeter at US-41 and Corkscrew Road, with a chain-link fence on the eastern, railroad side of the property.
- the installation of signage
The area is now open to the public.
A bald eagle management plan is in place, as an eagle's nest can be found in the southwestern area of the property.
Phase 1 represented less than 6 acres of the total 64 acres of the Village-owned "Estero on the River" property, located at the northeast corner of Corkscrew Road and US-41. Phase 2 improvements will include additional paths on the south side of the Estero River, a fence around the property south of the Estero River and a path along the north side of Corkscrew Road. These paths will allow people to walk through the area during the eagle's nesting season. These phases are expected to be completed soon.
The Park is now open. If you plan to visit, be aware of the following:
- Estero RiverPark is currently operating under a “soft opening” on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (These are the current hours).
- The Estero Forever Foundation is leading the activities and operations at the Park during this opening period.
- For parking, visitors should use the new parking lot on the north side of the river. A small sign will help direct you. Turn east onto County Road, just north of Estero River Outfitters, where the fire station is located. Follow the road to the end and turn right into the parking lot. A few shaded parking spaces are available. From there, walk across the Estero River using the pedestrian bridge to access the park.
Building on the momentum of the SportsPark, the Village's procurement office issued a new public-private partnership solicitation on Aug. 10, 2026. The Village seeks a qualified development partner to master plan, finance, build and operate a nearby 32-acre village-owned site north of the Estero River. The vision is to connect a walkable, mixed-use residential and retail riverfront district directly to the upcoming Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT).
