In May, 2013, Naples City Council approved the purchase of approximately seven acres of land adjacent to the eight acres where the city’s solid waste facilities were located and the five acres of Mangrove forest along the Gordon River. It was also approved by City Council to develop a legacy park on the combined twenty acres of land. After a nationwide search for a park designer, Matt Kragh, MHK
Architecture and Planning of Naples volunteered his firm and other professional designers and engineers to design the park. Over twenty-eight meetings were conducted for public input into the design of the park. By January, 2014 a Proposed Master Design was presented to City Council for approval. City Council approved $7.5 million dollars of taxpayer funds and required additional funds to be raised from the private sector. March 17, 2014, a Gala event was held on site. Over $5.2 million dollars was committed by private individuals. The park was officially named the Baker Park, with the lead gift by Patty and Jay Baker. Baker Park is the “people’s park” ! The community has provided creativity, enthusiasm, interest and most importantly funding. Fundraising will continue until the park has been fully funded.
