More than 50 volunteers from local environmental groups, businesses and government gathered at Lakes Park in Fort Myers over the weekend… to plant a filter marsh. The idea is to create a small wetland to help clean water as it flows out of the park into Hendry Creek, on its way to Estero Bay. Project Manager- Janet Strutzel says it was nice to see planning turn into action.

“There was a real positive feeling…yeah, we’ve been talking about things for a year and a half, now we’re getting something done. It may have been a simple step…first project, and you know, the magnitude of it, but I thought it was very positive in that we’ve gotten a project in the ground and can move forward with new projects.”

Strutzel says they’re waiting on data from a study by Johnson Engineering that will help identify similar projects in the area. The filter marsh is just the beginning for Lakes Park. Strutzel says restoration there will go way beyond Saturday’s planting.