Children play on a giant slide at the playground near an arch of blue and white balloons. People walk dogs along paved paths lined with palm trees. Others ride bicycles. The final sections of the long-awaited Baker Park in Naples opened October 29, and city leaders celebrated at a dedication ceremony for the 15-acre property along Goodlette-Frank Road north of U.S. 41 East.
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Xander Rodriguez, 3, of Naples, explores Baker Park’s new playground during the park’s grand opening October 29.
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Baker Park in Naples
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Baker Park on opening day, October 29. The $15 million park features a kayak launch, bike paths, walkways, a playground and a sunrise terrace.
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Chris Harris and Lindy Curran ride bikes at Baker Park in Naples on opening day, October 29.
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Baker Park in Naples
“I’m the happiest person here, for all the future grandchildren and moms and dads that will pass through this park,” Naples Mayor Bill Barnett said on opening day. “It’s beautiful.”
Baker Park, which anchors the southern end of the Gordon River Greenway, is the city’s first new park since Cambridge-Perry Park opened about 10 years ago near River Park in Naples.
The new addition is named for Jay and Patty Baker, who donated $2 million to the project. Jay Baker is the retired president of Kohl’s department stores. Patty Baker is a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer.
In an interview with the Naples Daily News on opening day, the couple said they were thrilled to see the completed park.
“We think this is going to be one of the best parks,” Jay said. “It’s incredible.”
Work on Baker Park gained momentum in 2013 when Naples approved the purchase of 7 acres alongside a former 8-acre horticultural landfill. The city also purchased 5 acres of mangrove forest along the Gordon River.
Baker Park includes a kayak launch, an outdoor fitness facility and a sunrise terrace, which all opened in March. A bike path, main park building and a grassy knoll were among the park amenities that opened to the public this fall.
“The whole thing is just unique,” said Dana Souza, the city’s community services director.
Construction of a $4.4 million pedestrian bridge across the Gordon River began in summer 2017. The Naples City Council gave final approval to the park in January 2018.
Total construction costs for Baker Park were less than $15 million and under budget, according to the city.
Naples received millions of dollars in donations for Baker Park. In addition to the Bakers’ donation, the city received $3.1 million from The Blair Foundation for the pedestrian bridge and the bike path.
Alan Ryker, a founding member of the Naples Pathways Coalition, spent time riding the bike trails opening day.
“It’s fabulous,” Ryker said of the park. “It’s something we will leave for generations to come.”
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Chris Harris and Lindy Curran ride bikes at Baker Park in Naples on opening day, October 29.
Cathy Faerber, the executive director of the Naples Pathways Coalition, said she sees an opportunity to connect the bike trails at Baker Park with the Paradise Coast Trail, a vision for a 70-mile multiuse pathway in Collier County.
“The Blair fast-track trail is great,” she said. “We love parks and we love trails and we want to see the momentum growing.”
A time capsule will be displayed or buried at the park with a letter from the mayor and memorabilia from the Naples City Council.
“Fifty years from now,” the mayor said,“some council will open it and see what we were up to today.”
IF YOU GO
Baker Park is at 10 Riverside Circle, Naples. Get more details at naplesgov.com.