Tucked into Southwest Florida’s ecologically sensitive Gulf Coast, Bonita Bay is surrounded by water on three sides and nestled within a series of delicate ecosystems – fresh- and saltwater marshes, mangrove stands, hardwood hammocks, a freshwater river and creek, and Estero Bay, which opens into the Gulf of Mexico. Over 1,400 acres of this 2,500 acre community are preserved as natural habitat.
A deep respect for nature and its preservation guided the design of Bonita Bay. To preserve the integrity of the community’s ecologically and archaeologically sensitive sites, The Bonita Bay Group set aside more than half of Bonita Bay’s acreage for open space and created multi-use areas. Homes were placed on the fringes, in areas where they could benefit from views of nature, but not impact it. The community’s golf courses were created to spare native trees and plants, and provide an idyllic backdrop for homes.
The Marina Club at Bonita Bay was the first in Lee County to earn the “Clean Marina” designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for its continuing commitment to improving the health and cleanliness of local waterways through its water and land management practices. The Clean Marina Program, a designation given to just three dozen of Florida’s 2,000 marinas to date, recognizes marinas that operate their facilities in an environmentally conscientious manner.
State-of-the-art irrigation practices were incorporated from Bonita Bay’s inception to minimize water waste, and precise land management limits the use of pesticides and herbicides whenever possible to preserve, rather than disturb, the natural food chain. Fertilizers are used sparingly to avoid ground and surface water contamination. Invasive non-native species of plant life are removed and replaced with native materials that help to bring balance to the ecosystem and attract native wildlife.
The Bonita Bay staff works tirelessly to properly maintain the community’s natural beauty and charm, always looking for ways to improve upon its successes.
Continuing education of staff and residents helps to maintain the symbiotic nature of the community and the environment. The grounds maintenance team and the community’s director of design have worked to identify, and educate residents, about the native species of trees growing in their community.
Newsletters regularly carry information about the community’s unique plants and wildlife and encourage proper respect for the nature preserve that hug the golf courses. Residents are also instructed how to properly report a tree believed to need special attention. Bonita Bay believes that resident participation nurtures a sense of ownership in the community and the environment. Each year, one Bonita Bay resident earns the Water Conservation Award for using the least amount of irrigation water to maintain a healthy landscape.
