Featured Events

The Engage Estero Survey (March 2026)

Executive Summary

The Engage Estero survey, conducted in March 2026, gathered responses from 664 residents to identify key priorities for its own organization, and the Village of Estero Management and Council, providing a solid foundation for our analysis. Notably, 68% spend more than 9 months each year in Greater Estero, and 51% have lived in the area for over 15 years.

This participation, sourced from over 45 different locations, including both homeowners’ associations and private addresses, ensures a diverse and representative sample that genuinely reflects our community.

A large majority (76%) felt the Village’s priorities needed to address the findings of the 2024 Traffic Study to enhance safety and reduce congestion. Other significant issues included land acquisition to preserve open spaces (66%) and plans for converting the Seminole Railway Line into bike and walking paths (52%).

Interestingly, 59% of respondents were unsure if the Village’s spending priorities aligned with their own, highlighting a need for clearer communication.

Overall, the survey confirms that traffic safety remains a top concern, along with preserving open space and expanding recreational opportunities.

Results

 To gain insight into residents’ views on the key priorities they feel the Village of Estero Management and Council should focus on, we asked several questions on this topic. The responses were as follows.

Village Priorities

The top three issues residents felt the Village Management should prioritize were:

• Addressing the results of the 2024 Traffic Study to enhance safety and reduce congestion (76%).
• Acquiring parcels of land to limit development and preserve open spaces (66%).
• Developing the Seminole railway line into bike and walking paths through Bonita Springs and Estero (52%).

Regarding the latter, on March 22, 2026, the Village of Estero announced the successful acquisition of the Seminole Gulf Railway property, covering approximately 8 miles of rail corridor. This corridor will be transformed into a dedicated bike and pedestrian trail, creating a safe and scenic route for residents and visitors.

In addition, the Village has already secured several significant land parcels, totaling around 200 acres within Estero. These acquisitions support the community’s goal of limiting development and enhancing resilience—an issue identified by 66% of residents as a top priority.

The Village management, including the Mayor and Council members, is fully aware of the need to address the findings of the 2024 Traffic Study¹, which were summarized at Engage Estero’s December Community Meeting. Discussions have been ongoing with the Lee County Commissioners, LDOT, and FDOT personnel, but factors such as procedural requirements, funding limitations, and competing demands from other municipalities mean there is no immediate solution. Nonetheless, Engage Estero and Village leadership remain committed to advocating for the recommended traffic improvements and will continue to press for timely action.

When asked whether they felt the Village’s spending priorities matched their own, most (59%) didn’t know, indicating they were unaware of the Village’s spending focus. It may not be a surprise, but the fact that so many residents are unaware of the Village’s spending priorities suggests a need for clearer, more widespread messaging about the Village’s intent on these important issues. Of the remaining 41% who felt they were aware of the spending priorities, 54% felt they aligned with their aims, while 46% did not.

Many residents (50) took the trouble to express their views and concerns about the present situation in Estero as they saw it. The prevailing view was that there was too much development, likely to lead to increasing traffic congestion. Residents were specifically concerned about the density of condo construction and the impact the sports complex would have on Williams Road. Several others would like the Estero River cleaned up to help boaters access the Gulf via the Estero River. Here is a selection of the comments made:

• Road improvements and less residential construction are all that matter.
• Allowing the construction of homes and businesses where the roads can’t handle the congestion.
• Too much development, not enough traffic plans.
• Building the sports complex without providing a proper roadway by widening Williams Rd will be a problem. Also, we need the Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks back-up addressed to turn East onto Corkscrew and South onto Three Oaks.
• I’m so concerned about the big sports complex and what kinds of activities it is going to draw. Traffic related to it is a huge concern, as I use the roads around it all the time.
• I believe the Village should do more to address navigation safety on the Estero River.
• I purchased a boat, and since Hurricane Ian, the Village has spent no money or effort to open the Estero River for safe passage.

The responses make it clear that addressing the findings of the 2024 Estero Traffic Study is a top priority for residents. They also highlight an urgent need for the Village to communicate these findings more actively, ensuring residents understand the challenges and proposed solutions. The fact that many residents remain unaware of the Village’s priorities underscores the importance of transparent, proactive communication—an essential step toward building a well-informed, engaged community that can meaningfully participate in local decision-making. By strengthening these connections, the Village can foster greater trust, collaboration, and collective progress toward the shared vision for Estero’s future.

The Engage Estero team respects the opportunity to liaise with the Village Management, the Mayor, and Councilors on a regular basis.  Consequently, Engage Estero is aware that the Estero Village team is actively involved in doing all they can to initiate as many of the recommendations that emerged from the Traffic Study as possible.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress.

References

1. Traffic Study Reveals Severe Congestion and Safety Risks https://esterotoday.com/event/dec2025/

____________________________________________________________________________________

Appendix

Q:  What do you think the Village’s spending priorities should be over the next few years? Please select the top 5 priorities you feel are the most important for the future of Estero.

All Answers: