Council to decide potential fate of 8,000 seat City of Palms Park

It once was the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox, and millions of your tax dollars have been thrown at it. Now, the City of Fort Myers wants it torn down.

The City wants to take possession of the City of Palms Park back from Lee County, but only after the County tears it down.

The park is owned by the County, even though the City is still paying off a $25 million bond on it.

The 8,000 seat facility hasn’t been used for its intended purpose of hosting a major league team for nearly a decade.

County taxpayers have funded maintenance on it and City taxpayers have been paying off the debt.

On Tuesday night, the City Council will vote to take back ownership of the City of Palms Park, but again, only after the County pays to demolish it, costing the County even more.

The City wants to use that parcel of land as part of its Midtown Redevelopment Plan.

The City will continue to pay off the bond until December 2022, for a stadium that will be demolished.

City Councilman Kevin Anderson, who represents the ward where the park is located, said, “Hopefully, what it gets transformed into will make it all worthwhile”