Page 12 - Life_In_Naples_Magazine_January_2015
P. 12
STATE CITY
OF
THE
CENTRAL AVENUE
A s many of our
residents and business
owners know, we have
been talking about
MAYOR JOHN SOREY Central Avenue Improvements
for sometime; in fact it has been
talked about since 2002.
The Community
“ By recreating Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
has indentified Central Avenue
Central Avenue
as a corridor to improve multi-
modal connectivity for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. A preliminary design was
we can make it
easier for people created, however it never became a reality due to lack of funding.
Moving forward to January 2014, the Naples CRA brought the concept up for
to be active and discussion and we’ve decided to move forward on developing a plan for Central Avenue.
The design firm Kimley-Horn and Associates was brought in to help with a design. They
healthy. We can do felt the corridor needed work for a variety of reasons; safety being number one.
Central Avenue is an under-utilized corridor as the old Naples Daily News site
that by improving has been vacant for years. Many people asked the question, how could it be better
walkability, utilized? The answer is outlined in the CRA Plan for Central Avenue. It would
incorporate a provide a continuous sidewalk along the corridor, legal dedicated bicycle lanes provide
continuous bicycle connectivity from beach to Baker Park and eventually, the Gordon
complete Streets River Greenway, add on-street parking, beautify Central Avenue with streetscape
Design approach, improvements, address stormwater issues on and install a higher capacity section of
water main.
bicycle and The City of Naples is looking at ways to help facilitate our residents and visitors desire
pedestrian friendly to exercise. By recreating Central Avenue we can make it easier for people to be active
and healthy. We can do that by improving walkability, incorporate a complete Streets
environment and Design approach, bicycle and pedestrian friendly environment and access to parks and
open spaces.
access to parks We have an outstanding opportunity to turn Central Avenue into a safe, beautiful,
” I realize change makes for discomfort and there will be impact to some businesses.
and open spaces. bike friendly avenue that will connect the west side of US 41 to the new Baker Park and
the Gordon River Greenway.
This is one of those projects that Council has to make decisions that are best for our
entire community and have the courage to withstand the pressure from individuals with a
single focus.
We will continue to work with Kimley-Horn, our streets and stormwater department
and our residents and business to create a corridor we can all be proud of. Our goal is to
start construction in summer 2015 the project will last approximately 12 months.
If you have any ideas, suggestions, or comments, please call me at 239.248.1550 or
email me at mayor@naplesgov.com.
12 Life in Naples | January 2015
OF
THE
CENTRAL AVENUE
A s many of our
residents and business
owners know, we have
been talking about
MAYOR JOHN SOREY Central Avenue Improvements
for sometime; in fact it has been
talked about since 2002.
The Community
“ By recreating Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
has indentified Central Avenue
Central Avenue
as a corridor to improve multi-
modal connectivity for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. A preliminary design was
we can make it
easier for people created, however it never became a reality due to lack of funding.
Moving forward to January 2014, the Naples CRA brought the concept up for
to be active and discussion and we’ve decided to move forward on developing a plan for Central Avenue.
The design firm Kimley-Horn and Associates was brought in to help with a design. They
healthy. We can do felt the corridor needed work for a variety of reasons; safety being number one.
Central Avenue is an under-utilized corridor as the old Naples Daily News site
that by improving has been vacant for years. Many people asked the question, how could it be better
walkability, utilized? The answer is outlined in the CRA Plan for Central Avenue. It would
incorporate a provide a continuous sidewalk along the corridor, legal dedicated bicycle lanes provide
continuous bicycle connectivity from beach to Baker Park and eventually, the Gordon
complete Streets River Greenway, add on-street parking, beautify Central Avenue with streetscape
Design approach, improvements, address stormwater issues on and install a higher capacity section of
water main.
bicycle and The City of Naples is looking at ways to help facilitate our residents and visitors desire
pedestrian friendly to exercise. By recreating Central Avenue we can make it easier for people to be active
and healthy. We can do that by improving walkability, incorporate a complete Streets
environment and Design approach, bicycle and pedestrian friendly environment and access to parks and
open spaces.
access to parks We have an outstanding opportunity to turn Central Avenue into a safe, beautiful,
” I realize change makes for discomfort and there will be impact to some businesses.
and open spaces. bike friendly avenue that will connect the west side of US 41 to the new Baker Park and
the Gordon River Greenway.
This is one of those projects that Council has to make decisions that are best for our
entire community and have the courage to withstand the pressure from individuals with a
single focus.
We will continue to work with Kimley-Horn, our streets and stormwater department
and our residents and business to create a corridor we can all be proud of. Our goal is to
start construction in summer 2015 the project will last approximately 12 months.
If you have any ideas, suggestions, or comments, please call me at 239.248.1550 or
email me at mayor@naplesgov.com.
12 Life in Naples | January 2015
