A century of memories

By Glenn Miller
Special to Fort Myers News Press

Before almost everything. Before the first movie theater or radio station or television station. Before anybody conceived devices such as DVDs and VCRs and iPods. Before minor-league sports teams came to town. Before big-league spring training. Before the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Before almost everything.

It was 1906. Lee County's first park, of sorts, opened near the Caloosahatchee east of downtown Fort Myers. It was called the Fort Myers Yacht and Country Club and initially was a private facility. In 1921, it became known as Terry Park, a public facility.

A three-day centennial celebration of Lee County's oldest park begins tonight and continues through Sunday at the park on Palm Beach Boulevard. All events are free.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TONIGHT

6 p.m.: Ribbon-cutting for new grandstand
7-8:30 p.m.: Softball game (local media vs. government officials)
8:30-9:15 p.m.: 100-year history parade
9:15-10 p.m.: Opening ceremonies; master of ceremonies is County Commissioner Tammy Hall.

SATURDAY

10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Activities and displays include the following: Pony rides; baseball clinic; tropical fruit tasting samples; Negro Baseball League memories; park agriculture history; baseball-themed books and baseball trivia; old voting machines; boxing exhibition; Terry Park history display; photo display.

SUNDAY

1:05 p.m.: Fort Myers Miracle vs. Dunedin Blue Jays baseball game.

MORE INFO

Admission is free to all events.
Parking is free all three days. Spectator parking on Friday and Saturday will be at Shady Oaks Park. Sunday parking will be at Terry Park. No parking will be allowed Sunday at Shady Oaks.
For information, go to leeparks.org.