Login | Contact Us | Feedback | Site Map | Archives | RSS | Subscribe to the paper

HomeLatest News

Brent Batten: Caxambas ramp could be model for county park on Pulling property

STORY TOOLS
Share on Facebook

It’s too early to say what the Pulling property on the Gordon River will end up looking like.

But if you want a hint of what its owner envisions, drive to Marco Island.

That’s where you’ll find the Caxambas Park boat launch, a facility John Pulling Jr., who regained ownership of the Gordon River parcel this week, cites as an example of what he’d like to see.

Pulling demanded the City of Naples return the land his father, the late John Pulling Sr., had given to the city in 1996 because of the city’s inability to settle on a design and build the public boat launch the elder Pulling had in mind.

The city and Pulling Jr. were headed to court until a settlement this week put the property back in Pulling’s hands.

Pulling is wasting no time looking for new partners to bring his father’s vision to fruition.

He plans to meet with county officials this week to discuss the idea of making the property a county park. Assistant County Manager Leo Ochs confirmed he will meet Monday with Pulling’s agent and parks director Marla Ramsey. He said county officials don’t know precisely what Pulling is proposing.

While he was empowered to seek the return of the 7 acres east of Central Avenue from the city on behalf of John Pulling Sr.’s other heirs, Pulling says he’ll have to build a consensus within the family before deciding on an exact use for the land.

That’s where the county comes in.

Pulling specifically mentioned the 4-acre Caxambas Park launch, with a small ships store, as a model for what he’d like to see.

In contrast to the city, which dithered for a decade before finally giving back a gift worth upwards of $10 million, “The county knows how to do it,’’ Pulling said.

Reports on the Pulling property have described the future use as a marina, but don’t think Hamilton Harbor or any of the other upscale marinas that increasingly ring Naples Bay and push boaters of modest means out.

Pulling insists he’s committed to the concept of a boat launch accessible to the public, as opposed to an exclusive marina.

“It’s just a boat launch, I don’t know how high-end it can go,’’ Pulling said.

The launch, like other county boat ramps, would assess a fee, but it’s not intended to be a profit-maker for the Pulling family.

County ramps charge $5 to launch a boat. Pulling says he would favor something along those lines.

“A fair launch fee, not 10 or 15 bucks,’’ he said.

Whatever the Pullings settle on, don’t look for anything soon. The process of getting permits will have to begin anew, Pulling said.

County commissioners in May agreed to contribute $700,000 toward development of a boat launch at the Pulling site. Ochs, while professing to be in the dark about Pulling’s latest intentions, is all ears. “All it (the meeting agenda) says is ‘Pulling property discussion.’ We’ll obviously hear him out,’’ he said.

E-mail Brent Batten at bebatten@naplesnews.com

Comments

This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below — responsibility lies with the relevant reader alone. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.




Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn: