LaBelle Nature Park Project

Several community-minded groups have begun developing ideas and preliminary plans to for presentation to the City of LaBelle Commission. The ideas envision limited improvements to the LaBelle Nature Park. The nine-acre park is located the end of Fraser Avenue adjacent to the Hendry House (see the graphic links provided below or an online aerial photo). South Florida Water Management District owns the property and leases it to the City of LaBelle.


Location Map	Park Parcel #1	Park Parcel #2

The Hendry-LaBelle Recreation Department manages the park land and many years ago developed plans for its eventual improvement. On June 12, 2003, the Recreation Department Board, whose members represent the Hendry County Commission, the LaBelle City Commission, and the Hendry County School Board, approved a project by the LaBelle Rotary Club for Rotary to fund and implement basic improvements to the park (maintenance of trails, signage, fencing, etc.). With this initial clean-up completed, Rotary presented a more ambitious proposal to the Rec. Board. The Board endorsed the park project concept.


USDA-NRCS design for trails within the park	Design sketch for the park entrance	Design sketch for the park entrance and platforms	Design sketch for possible observation platforms

Residents of the Nature Park area also met on several occasions to view presentations and consider ideas and determine if changes in the park would be beneficial to the neighborhood. The neighborhood group City of LaBelle officials have cited objections to the concept of implementing any improvements to the park. The City cites security, neighborhood and preservation issues as being fundamentally incompatible with expanded use of the park land. The issue may receive consideration by the full City Commission at t a future meeting.

The Hendry County Comprehensive Plan (1999 revision) lists the LaBelle Nature Park and classifies its use as:

The lease of the park property from the SFWMD to the City of LaBelle encourages its development as a community recreational facility. The lease further requires that LaBelle management include:

The LaBelle Nature Park is also currently used as a field trip destination for Hendry County K-12 classes. The more ambitious plans call for using the park as the focus of a more structured K-12 natural resources and environmental education curriculum. The Hendry County School District recently formally endorsed this idea and has established a committee of teachers to develop a curriculum that would use the Nature Park as its focal point. However, given City of LaBelle concerns regarding security of the park and neighborhood, the LaBelle Nature Park may turn out not to be suitable for a K-12 educational program. Alternate sites may need to be identified and developed.

In addition to serving as a potential focal point for a K-21 educational field trip destination, the LaBelle Nature Park has the potential to be the site of restoration project to reopen portions of the old river. The current oxbow waterway is open within the park but closed (filled with sediment) behind the lots outside the park. Depending on the interest level of adjacent homeowners, there is the potential to make this oxbow part of a planned Corps of Engineers or private restoration effort for other oxbows in Lee and Hendry County. However, for such a restoration plan have any chance of success, would require the unanimous and enthusiastic support of each and every affected homeowner. Even with such support, the project may not be selected for the initial restoration project, since there are over 15 candidate oxbows in Hendry County. The Hendry County Commission voted to support the concept of oxbow restoration within the county.

Organizations currently involved in discussion of the merits of the park improvement ideas include:

The house adjacent to the LaBelle Nature Park, 412 Fraser Avenue was recently offered for sold by its longtime owners, John and Virginia Shelton. The disposition of this property had the potential to affect hopes for improving the park as a local educational and recreational resource. In an effort to assist the park development project, Country Home and Land (CHL) has purchased the home to minimize the potential for the adjacent private landowner raising objections to park improvements. The home will serve as a residence for CHL staff and for volunteers engaged in community service projects.