Gardners Park Real Estate

gardners park fort myers florida

Gardner's Park is a historic neighborhood just east of Downtown Fort Myers, Florida, that offers a charming mix of upscale retail shops, eateries, art galleries and historic attractions. Shop for hand-crafted jewelry or the perfect vintage linens to adorn a holiday table, finishing up with high tea served with locally grown, organic food. The area has a rich history, starting off as a former guava plantation by the Reverend William Gardner when he arrived in Fort Myers in 1895. In deference to the many contributions the storied Gardner family made to Fort Myers over the years, the community is aptly named "Gardner's Park. Reverend Gardner not only helped establish the first newspaper and cemetery in Fort Myers, he was also one of the area's biggest employers while running his guava canning company. Gardner helped stimulate the local economy by paying locals for the guavas, in addition to hiring more than 50 workers to make his renowned jellies and preserves. As part of the service to the city he loved, Gardner went on to become Fort Myers' second mayor.

The Gardner's Park area first garnered notice as a shopping destination when The Butterfly Estates opened in January 2009. Combining a 3600 sf glass butterfly conservatory with a number of green-friendly shops and a cafe, the Butterfly Estates has continued to invest in new shops and its latest food venture, the sumptuous Z Crepes. Gardner Park is also home to the Burroughs Home and Gardens. Set among lush gardens and majestic oaks, the Burroughs Home is a Georgian Revival mansion built in 1901 that played host to Fort Myers elite, including the Edisons, Fords, and Firestones. Today the home is open to visitors and frequently rented out as a scenic backdrop for parties and weddings.

While Gardner's Park is largely a commercial area spanning Fowler and Hough Street, this may change in the near future. Fort Myers officials have announced plans to invest in better drainage and street lighting as well as a shared parking lot to further revitalize the area. The plan also includes initiatives to further expand the area into a garden arts district with residential living space above the small shops and art studios lining the streets. The area's strong sense of community and history bodes well for a vibrant future.

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