More Than Just a Stop on the Gordon River Greenway

Naples Airport’s environmental initiatives run deep

by Chris Rozansky, Executive Director, Naples Airport Authority

Chris Rozansky. Ex. Dir. NAA

The Gordon River Greenway Park is a 140-acre ecological corridor that travels through the heart of Naples. The 2.5-mile, meandering trail is designed for passive recreational activities, like walking, biking, rollerblading, fishing or snacking under picnic shelters.

While it’s a great place for light-to-moderate exercise, the Greenway also offers a spectacular venue for wildlife spotting. Users often catch glimpses of alligators, bobcats, otters, herons, egrets, anhingas, woodpeckers, ibis and even bald eagles.

The Greenway provides a getaway from the hustle and bustle of Naples, a much-needed reprieve from the sounds of a thriving city – cars honking, hammers pounding and music blaring. Essentially, it leads users down a path telling a story about the way Naples used to be… untouched, natural and breathtaking.

The fact that a section of the Greenway wraps around the northwestern edge of Naples Airport might be surprising to some. It’s not for our team, though. Environmental initiatives run deep at Naples Airport, a pillar of the community since it opened in 1943 as a military airfield.

Naples Airport Authority’s Board of Commissioners funded an extension of sorts that connects the Greenway’s official terminus point near Collier Mosquito Control District to two additional endpoints – Naples Airport’s Observation Deck and the City of Naples’ Baker Park. Additionally, the airport board also authorized the removal of exotic vegetation, the restoration of pathways and the rejuvenation of a pond near North Road.

As the nation prepares to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, the Greenway project remains a shining example of Naples Airport’s commitment to the environment. Before sustainability became a buzzword, Naples Airport adopted a comprehensive Sustainability, Conservation and Social Responsibility Plan. The last portion of the plan’s name is especially noteworthy. Implementing initiatives to preserve and protect the environment are not just action items on a board meeting agenda, they are our responsibility.

Back in 2014, Naples Airport completed a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, which included a pilot program funded by the FAA and Florida Department of Transportation that used manmade lakes to filter runoff from airport property as well as nearby industrial areas. This new system meant only filtered water was sent onto Rock Creek, the Gordon River and Naples Bay rather than contaminant-filled runoff that previously flowed into waterways.

Other successful environmental initiatives at Naples Airport include:

Comprehensive Wildlife Management Program: reduces the risks of wildlife interactions with aircraft Transformative Fuel Initiative: promotes cleaner, efficient aviation practices by offering alternative fuel options Fleet Electrification: transitions ground fleet from gas and diesel to electric vehicles.

On Earth Day, millions of Americans will do their part to help our environment, from picking up trash along roads and waterways to planting trees and upcycling products. That’s just one day, though. By incorporating sustainability into our everyday lives, every day can be Earth Day.

About the Author – Chris Rozansky, C.M., is executive director of the Naples Airport Authority.

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For more information, visit the Naples Airport Authority’s website at www.flynaples.com