On March 4, the Village of Estero City Council voted unanimously to fund their portion of the 11.4-mile rail to trail corridor. After their efforts to acquire the corridor for the past 7 years, this council figured out a way to do it!
On March 24 Collier County Commissioners voted to fund their 1.5-mile portion, and on March 25 Bonita Springs voted to fund their 5.8-mile segment. Once all three jurisdictions have approved the acquisition of their section, then boundary surveys, environmental and title assessments, and appraisals begin.
If you want to get involved, attend the April 14 Annual Member meeting. The doors open at 5:30pm for a happy hour with a presentation at 6:15 held at The Elks Club, 3231 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs. There was an article in Gulfshore Business, and WGCU TV NEWS had an update on February 27, 2026. If you want more information here are some links: https://bonitaesterorailtrail.com or contact them: at [email protected]
The following was reported in the Village of Estero weekly email update:
“The Village has been involved in discussions for over a year with the Trust for Public Land, Seminole Gulf Railway (SGR), Bonita Springs, and Collier County regarding the potential acquisition of a portion of the rail line controlled by SGR within these respective jurisdictions. The Estero segment of the line extends from the Estero Parkway right-of-way south to the Village’s boundary with the City of Bonita Springs. The total length is approximately 4.1 miles, 130 feet wide, and the purchase price is $19,792,209.”
