Our Most Treasured Amenity

The homeowners of Pelican Landing and The Colony Golf and Bay Club enjoy their private island, a unique 35 acre parcel on the north end of Big Hickory Island and accessed exclusively by water taxi. The trip to the beach park begins with dolphins often swimming along side the watercraft, making the jaunt a very enjoyable experience for youngsters and adults alike. The beach park is considered a common element shared by all Pelican Landing & Colony residents, according Lee County Property Appraisers web site, (Leepa.org) and there is no taxable value to it so, residents enjoy an increased property value on their homes.
After Hurricane Charley, five years ago, erosion carried more than 150 feet of the beach out to sea. A recent sand bag project costing approximately $70,000 was put forth as thousands of residents and guests of Hyatt enjoy it's pristine beauty annually.
But some supporters of the beach renourishment project have grown wary as much of their effort, thought to be a more permanent solution, continues to wash into the sea. The City of Bonita Springs has stepped in declaring a state of emergency, thus helping to secure a permit for 12,000 sandbags to be placed along the north end of the island.
In addition to a couple of sand flow complications resulting from Lee County's 1995 beach renourishment-add to that a breach opening after Hurricane Charlie, left the beach in a very vulnerable condition and erosion ensued.
According to Nicole Elco of Elco Coastal Consulting, "Over time, if you add enough sand, eventually it will become healthy again."
Cooperation is essential from Lee County Natural Resources Division, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to continue efforts to restore the beach. But residents of Pelican Landing and The Colony and the Hyatt are likely to continue funding the projects that make the park attractive & the valuable amenity residents and visitors alike have come expect.