Fort Myers, FSW agree on shared use of City of Palms Park

On Monday, the Fort Myers City Council will discuss an agreement between the City and Florida Southwestern State College on using City of Palms Park for sporting events. In a meeting late Monday evening, Fort Myers City Council approved its licensing agreement with FSW.

Now that the park is property of Fort Myers, FSW wants the same contract it had with Lee County, which would allow the school to use the park for 30 men’s baseball games and 30 women’s softball games through June 1.

This agreement says the college will provide the City $1,000 per month to partially offset the utility cost and an additional $100 per hour that the field lights are on. The City can use the complex when the college does not have games or practice. FSW must provide staffing for games including security personnel and traffic control.

FSW’s baseball coach Ben Bizier says City of Palms Park is a recruiting asset for the team. “As a coaching staff, we have used that pitch a number of times. You know if it’s a pitcher we’ll say we’ll put you in Pedro Martinez’s locker. If it’s a hitter, we’ll put you in David Ortiz’s locker. So I mean that it’s powerful,” said Bizier.

It also says that the college will let the City know if there is an event with over 2,500 people and students of FSW and Fort Myers city employees will be given free admission to games.

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