New Imperial River Trail Expansion Gets the Green Light

Bonita Springs, FL · July 8, 2026

Humidity is holding steady this morning, but the breeze off the river makes the early walk worth it. If you're heading toward Old 41, watch for the survey crews starting their rounds near the bridge.

📰 The Lead

The City Council moved forward last night with a plan to extend the Imperial River Blueway, adding two miles of paved walking paths and three new kayak launch points between Riverside Park and the interstate. This project has been in the works for nearly a year, aiming to connect the historic downtown core with the quieter eastern reaches of the river. Residents raised concerns about parking at the new trailheads, leading the council to include a permeable-paver lot in the final design to mitigate runoff. Construction crews are expected to begin clearing invasive Brazilian pepper trees along the route by late August. This expansion marks the largest investment in the city’s "Green Loop" initiative to date, promising a continuous corridor for non-motorized travel across the city.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • Pickleball Court Lighting Upgrade Complete — Evening play at the Recreation Center now extends until 10 PM with new LED fixtures.

  • Terry Street Lane Closures — Expect intermittent delays near Pine Avenue today as utility crews perform routine sewer line inspections.

☁️ Today's Outlook

  • High 93°F · Low 77°F — Overcast
    • Keep the hydration handy; that cloud cover won't do much to cut the humidity.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • Mid-Week Watercolor Workshop — Center for the Arts, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Guided session focusing on local landscapes — all skill levels are welcome.

  • Estero: Live Music Under the Stars — Coconut Point, 6:00–8:00 PM Short drive for an outdoor concert featuring local blues and jazz artists.

  • General Knowledge Trivia — Hopsized Brewing Co., 6:30 PM Grab a flight and test your brain; prizes for the top three teams.

  • Naples: Evening Shelling Excursion — Delnor-Wiggins Pass, 5:30 PM Low tide provides the best chance to find olives and fighting conchs.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • Bonita Nature Place
    • Tucked away on Kent Road, this hidden gem features a "bat hotel" that houses thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats. Every evening at dusk, visitors can watch the colony emerge to hunt, providing a natural—and highly effective—form of local mosquito control.

Bonita Springs Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.

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