Luck was on the side of East County Water Control District ( ECWCD) this afternoon as gray skies broke and visitors, both from near and far, were greeted with sunny skies and familiar smiles at the site of Jim Fleming Ecological Park (JFEP).

Today was the celebration of a dream almost a decade in the making.

As a tribute to Jim Fleming, a long-time friend and Board Member of ECWCD and active Miami Hurricane Booster, the park now bears his name. Without his passion and persistence, this dream would not have come true for many.

To celebrate Fleming’s dedication to the community, more than 100 people including County Commissioners, members of the University of Miami Cheerleading Squad and Mascot, the Riverdale High School Band, Lee County Sheriff’s Color Guard, and community members came out to witness this momentous occasion.

The 3.5– acre parcel, one of the last remaining pieces of original wetlands in Lehigh Acres, was donated to ECWCD in 1999 by the Lehigh Corporation in order to develop a passive park for community enjoyment.

Years of hard work followed as ECWCD and its Board Members strove to gain the necessary funding and approval to realize this dream.

JFEP was made possible by the generous contributions of: The Florida Department of the Environmental Protection, Lee County, Lehigh Acres Kiwanis Club, Lehigh Acres Rotary Club, and ECWCD.

With contributions totaling $180,000, the project was finally able to break ground on July 3, 2007.

The park will be open for community enjoyment from dusk until dawn seven days a week. Community members can stroll along the 500-foot boardwalk and make use of the park’s two pavilions and barbeque facilities.