New Wheeler Road tennis & pickleball design released

Lee County Parks & Recreation has developed concept plans for changes and additions to Wheeler Road Community Park, including pickleball courts, and is asking for public comment.

Mack A. Young, the director of Lee County Parks and Recreation, sent the the initial plans to various community leaders who had expressed an interest in the issue.

“We encourage you to share these plans and survey link with fellow community members and stakeholders in Boca Grande to provide their feedback,” Young wrote in the July 31 email. “We look forward to sharing the future of this project with you.”

At this time, Lee County’s initial plan is to add three pickleball courts, a restroom building near the pickleball courts. It would also add two shade structures, one near the tennis courts and another near the pickleball. The plan would also add ADA sidewalks around the interior perimeter of both of the dog parks. The sidewalk would be contained inside the fenced boundary.

These changes are part of efforts to enhance Parks & Recreation facilities through a 5-year Capital Improvement Program. 

This is the first plan from the county since island resident Nancy Leckerling commented at a Lee County Commissioners meeting back in January 2024. Leckerling implored the county to keep both public tennis courts, rather than move forward with the proposed plan at the time to replace one of them with several pickleball courts.

The discussion prompted several meetings throughout early spring, and many members of the community on both sides of the issue met to discuss whether there should be more tennis or pickleball courts available for free use on the island. One item discussed at the meetings was a Lee government policy requiring the maintenance of the two existing public tennis courts. This resulted in Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane, working with residents, agreeing to keep the two tennis courts on Wheeler Road, while finding a different location for pickleball.

Anyone interested can visit arcg.is/0LjvS51 to view and provide comments on the concept design. The survey will remain open through Friday, Aug. 16.