New shade coverings at the refurbished Bayside Park in Fort Myers Beach ahead of its reopening on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. Credit: WINK News Bayside Park is set to reopen in Fort Myers Beach on Tuesday morning after a $950,000 improvement project. If you go there now, you’ll see shaded platforms for entertainers and water fountains for both people and their pets. Bayside Park, located at has been undergoing these renovations for the last few months. A few of the other improvements include shade sails, environmentally friendly turf and refurbished brick pavers, benches and a small brick wall for seating. Mayor Ray Murphy says he hopes this project will help beautify the area and improve the quality of life for people living in Fort Myers Beach. “It was getting a little tired in its last reincarnation and it just needed a facelift, and it’s turned out beautifully, and people down here are going to be able to enjoy it — the business people will be able to enjoy it as well, and it’s gonna be great,” Murphy said. “Anytime you can preserve open-area venues for people to sit and relax and enjoy, that’s always a plus for any community, particularly our town here.” The Bayside Park project was one of three major redesign projects set to be completed in Fort Myers Beach by 2024. The other two projects are for Times Square and Bay Oaks Recreational Campus. The town has been preparing for the Times Square renovations since 2018. They are set to include updates to the square’s aesthetics, its walkways, common areas and the entertainment stage. The plan for Bay Oaks is to redevelop nearly 15 acres of the campus to include a new building for a variety of youth and adult programs and activities, an amphitheater and a welcome center. “We took out a loan for $10 million for the three projects,” Murphy said. “I don’t know whether that’s going to cover it all or not, but, you know, that’s certainly gonna get a substantial amount of the work done and if need be, we’ll have to make up the difference somewhere else. But it’s something that we can handle, and we’re doing very well with the projects thus far, and we’re going to keep it going.” The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Bayside Park is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.