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A Path to Survival: Why Lee County Needs the Rail-to-Trail Revolution
by Scott StrykerPublished by: News-Press, May 16th, 2026 I know what it feels like to lose someone you love. In my case, it was the cruel randomness of pediatric cancer—something with no clear prevention. For the families of the two cyclists killed this April in Southwest Florida, the grief must carry an added weight: the…
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Naples Daily News Opt Ed
April 10th, 2026 A Once-in-a-Generation Path to a Safer, Greener Southwest Florida For years, Southwest Florida has been defined by a paradox: we live in a tropical paradise, yet our roads are among the deadliest in the nation for cyclists and pedestrians. We are a community of world-class beaches and nature preserves, yet we are…
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Breaking News – Bonita Springs City Council Votes to Purchase Rail Corridor for BERT
Breaking News – Bonita Springs City Council Votes to Purchase Rail Corridor for BERT!! The Bonita Springs City Council voted to approve the purchase and sale agreement to acquire the rail corridor currently owned by Seminole Gulf Railway for the future Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT). The 6-1 vote occurred during this morning’s council meeting…
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BERT Video
How BERT Will Transform Our Community Watch the latest video about what BERT will mean to the community here.
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Estero Village Council Votes to Acquire Rail Corridor
Village of Estero Votes to Approve Purchase Agreement with Trust for Public Land for 11.4 Mile Bonito-Estero Rail Trail Segment Joint Media Release from Trust for Public and Friends of Bonita Estero Rail Trail – March 4th, 2026 Estero, Fl. – The Village of Estero Council has voted today to approve a purchase agreement with…
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BREAKING NEWS!! Trust for Public Land and Friends of BERT Announce Landmark Agreement with Seminole Gulf Railway to Advance 11.4-Mile Bonita–Estero Rail Corridor Acquisition
BREAKING NEWS!! Trust for Public Land and Friends of BERT Announce Landmark Agreement with Seminole Gulf Railway to Advance 11.4-Mile Bonita Springs – Estero Rail Corridor Acquisition Friends of Bonita Estero Rail Trail ‘Pack the House’ at Estero Village BERT Workshop Estero, Bonita Springs, and Collier County, Fla. — Trust for Public Land (TPL) and…
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2025 Ride for BERT
2025 Ride for BERT – The Best Ride Yet! Deb Orton, president of Friends of BERT, welcomed riders and energized the crowd with an update on the progress toward building the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. She thanked leaders in Estero, Bonita Springs, and Collier County for their financial pledges and reminded us that we see…
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Trail Project Receives Funding Pledge from Collier County
Trail Project Receives Funding Pledge from Collier County Rail-to-Trail Corridor Finds Momentum Forward Collier County, FL (Date TK) — Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Friends of BERT applaud the Collier County Commission’s pledge of $6.89 million to support the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT). The pledge is critical to maintaining forward momentum on the…
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Sponsor Spotlight – Wolfmoon
Sponsor Spotlight – Wolfmoon We are pleased to highlight one of our Platinum sponsors of Friends of BERT, Wolfmoon. Wolfmoon is more than a coffee and pastry shop—it’s a place where craftsmanship and community meet. Specializing in French croissants and third-wave coffee, every item is made from scratch with the finest ingredients available. This year,…
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Community Momentum Builds Behind BERT
Community Momentum Builds Behind Bonita Estero Rail Trail Over $100,000 in Gifts and Pledges Announced at Community Celebration. Energy, optimism, and unity were on full display in early June as dozens of community members gathered for an Evening of Connection and Community hosted by the board of Friends of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT). Hosted by the…