Page 80 - Life_In_Naples_Magazine_January_2015
P. 80
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
BAKER
PARK
gets closer to
becoming a reality
E very week the reality of
welcoming Neapolitans to Baker
Park gets closer to fruition. Of
the many milestones achieved
in recent months, Friends of
Baker Park, Inc. is now a 501(c)(3) not for
profit organization with a tax deductible
status from the State of Florida. The web
site, www.FriendsOfBakerPark.com is
live and serves as the communications
centerpiece where people can join
Friends of Baker Park, volunteer, make
tax deductible donations and make
reservations for the Gala. park right along with you.”
The generous donors for whom Mrs. Baker shares her husband’s enthusiasm for the park, especially the connection with
Gordon River and activities like rowing, boating and kayaking.
Baker Park is named served as a
springboard that catapulted the park “This has been due for a long time and it is a wonderful place for kids to come here, and to
project forward. They are Patty and Jay have a carousel,” she says. “We are so excited to have this naming opportunity and there are
Baker, who have also graciously agreed many other naming opportunities, so you can help create this park too.”
to be the Honorary Chairs of this year’s In perhaps the most exciting news of recent months, the engineering results have revealed
no major obstacles. Mayor John Sorey says while the park is a challenging construction project
“One Leaf at a Time – Prelude to a
Park Two Gala for Baker Park” taking due to the fill material, it’s nothing unachievable.
place on the park grounds Saturday, “On December 15 City Council meeting CDM Smith presented their 30 percent design
March 7. The Bakers shared their joy criteria and we’re looking forward to proceeding to the 60 percent design status,” he says.
of helping the park become real for All that remains to bring Baker Park to its citizens is the balance of the original budget.
generations in a special video for last “We have a budget of $15 million and within that, the City has contributed $7.5 million
year’s Gala celebration. plus the land, and that excludes the bridge,” says Mayor Sorey. “We have raised privately
“This is a wonderful thing for the almost $6 million but we still need to raise $1.5 million – and if we raise more than that it will
just make it a better park.”
community and for the kids in the
community so we are just very excited Baker Park is full of environmentally friendly endeavors, but Mayor Sorey heralds the
that the Mayor asked us – he brought Conservancy of Southwest Florida for their assistance and is enthusiastic about one particular
us here and showed us the project and ecofriendly aspect of the park project.
we went back to his office and said ‘yes, “The Conservancy has been great to work with and one of the exciting concepts is building
absolutely’ we want to do this,” says Mr. the bridge from above, which will have the equipment to drive the pilings on the bridge deck
Baker. “We look forward to using the versus into the mangroves,” he says. “I’m also excited about working out with the Conservancy
80 Life in Naples | January 2015
BAKER
PARK
gets closer to
becoming a reality
E very week the reality of
welcoming Neapolitans to Baker
Park gets closer to fruition. Of
the many milestones achieved
in recent months, Friends of
Baker Park, Inc. is now a 501(c)(3) not for
profit organization with a tax deductible
status from the State of Florida. The web
site, www.FriendsOfBakerPark.com is
live and serves as the communications
centerpiece where people can join
Friends of Baker Park, volunteer, make
tax deductible donations and make
reservations for the Gala. park right along with you.”
The generous donors for whom Mrs. Baker shares her husband’s enthusiasm for the park, especially the connection with
Gordon River and activities like rowing, boating and kayaking.
Baker Park is named served as a
springboard that catapulted the park “This has been due for a long time and it is a wonderful place for kids to come here, and to
project forward. They are Patty and Jay have a carousel,” she says. “We are so excited to have this naming opportunity and there are
Baker, who have also graciously agreed many other naming opportunities, so you can help create this park too.”
to be the Honorary Chairs of this year’s In perhaps the most exciting news of recent months, the engineering results have revealed
no major obstacles. Mayor John Sorey says while the park is a challenging construction project
“One Leaf at a Time – Prelude to a
Park Two Gala for Baker Park” taking due to the fill material, it’s nothing unachievable.
place on the park grounds Saturday, “On December 15 City Council meeting CDM Smith presented their 30 percent design
March 7. The Bakers shared their joy criteria and we’re looking forward to proceeding to the 60 percent design status,” he says.
of helping the park become real for All that remains to bring Baker Park to its citizens is the balance of the original budget.
generations in a special video for last “We have a budget of $15 million and within that, the City has contributed $7.5 million
year’s Gala celebration. plus the land, and that excludes the bridge,” says Mayor Sorey. “We have raised privately
“This is a wonderful thing for the almost $6 million but we still need to raise $1.5 million – and if we raise more than that it will
just make it a better park.”
community and for the kids in the
community so we are just very excited Baker Park is full of environmentally friendly endeavors, but Mayor Sorey heralds the
that the Mayor asked us – he brought Conservancy of Southwest Florida for their assistance and is enthusiastic about one particular
us here and showed us the project and ecofriendly aspect of the park project.
we went back to his office and said ‘yes, “The Conservancy has been great to work with and one of the exciting concepts is building
absolutely’ we want to do this,” says Mr. the bridge from above, which will have the equipment to drive the pilings on the bridge deck
Baker. “We look forward to using the versus into the mangroves,” he says. “I’m also excited about working out with the Conservancy
80 Life in Naples | January 2015
