Rail Trail Group Previews Trailhead Plans Tomorrow Evening
Bonita Springs, FL · October 18, 2026
Overcast skies offer a welcome break from direct sun this morning, perfect for catching the fall craft fair at the Promenade or an easy walk along the river.
The Lead
With voter approval of the $35 million bond secured, the 11.4-mile Bonita Estero Rail Trail project is moving through its critical due diligence window ahead of the planned corridor acquisition from Seminole Gulf Railway. For Bonita Springs, which accounts for 5.8 miles of the proposed multi-use greenway, the weeks following the August referendum have centered on engineering inspections of rail bridges, environmental assessments, and coordination with neighboring municipal partners. Once the multi-jurisdiction purchase closes, the corridor will permanently preserve an uninterrupted ribbon of green space linking downtown to regional trails. Tomorrow, October 19, the Friends of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail board convenes its monthly public meeting at 5:00 PM at The Brooks at Lighthouse Bay, where organizers will brief neighbors on bridge inspection findings and upcoming design phases for local trailheads.
Local Pulse
Winter Gardens Adds Historic Brick Street Paving Roads City leaders authorized a public-private partnership to install historic brick pavers across neighborhood corridors to enhance pedestrian traffic.
Midtown at Bonita Gears Up Commercial Phase Business Retail buildouts accelerate across the mixed-use development, where 30 dedicated acres buffer local waterways and manage neighborhood stormwater.
Curbside Pickup Shifts Back to 6:30 AM Community Lee County waste haulers return to standard morning collections next Monday, giving neighborhood households an extra ninety minutes of sleep.
Today's Outlook
- High 81°F · Low 67°F — Overcast
- Expect quiet, overcast skies today with mild air making outdoor plans especially comfortable.
What's On Around Town
Today
Fall Arts & Crafts Fair Promenade at Bonita Bay (26811 S Bay Dr), Noon–4:00 PM · Free Handmade local gifts, seasonal decor, and open-air shopping.
Dance Floorwork Masterclass Citrus Circus Center (24850 Old 41 Rd), 2:30–4:30 PM · $40 Cozy beginner-friendly movement workshop set to Teddy Swims.
Free Fallin: Tom Petty Tribute Hinman Auditorium (10150 Bonita Beach Rd SE), 7:00–9:00 PM · $48–58 Classic heartland rock anthems performed with full arena vigor.
Tomorrow
75th Anniversary Storytime Bonita Springs Public Library (10560 Reynolds St), 10:30–11:00 AM · Free
Open Volleyball Play Elevate SWFL (28120 Race Track Rd), 4:00–6:30 PM
Paul Adolli Live The Center Bar (26811 S Bay Dr), 6:00–9:00 PM · Free
Tuesday
Guided Historic Grounds Tour Shangri-La Springs (27750 Old 41 Rd), 10:00–11:00 AM · Free
Trick-or-Treat Bag Bash Bonita Springs Public Library (10560 Reynolds St), 4:00 PM · Free
Haunted Hoedown Mercato (9110 Strada Pl), Naples, 5:00–8:00 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- The 1921 Schoolhouse
- When Harvey Heitman built the red-brick schoolhouse at Dean and Horne in 1921, its three classrooms accommodated every grade in town. The campus featured modern indoor plumbing but lacked electricity, requiring wire fencing to keep free-ranging cattle off the recess yard.
Bonita Springs Daily Digest — compiled from local sources every morning. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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