Who We Are
The Fort Myers Villas Educational, Literary and Charitable Institution, Inc. (doing business as the Fort Myers Villas Civic Association), is a 501(c)(3) public charity serving the greater Fort Myers Villas area.
The association maintains our building and property and builds fellowship by providing a safe community gathering place for all ages that promotes literacy, education, and acts of charity. Some of our activities include book sales, spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts, as well as member programming that includes guest speakers, art classes and yoga. We partner with other area organizations for charity drives several times a year, participate in literacy programs, distribute backpacks and school supplies to students in grades K-12, offer free tutoring, award an annual scholarship to high school seniors, and host a weekly cancer support group in our civic center building. Our general membership meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. Membership is open to the public. When people work together, we can bring about changes that will improve the quality of life of many! We are always excited to add members to the nonprofit.
Villas Park is located at 2316 Sunrise Blvd and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The grounds are abundant with exotic trees and plants from around the world, and we feature a native butterfly garden on the east side of the Civic Center building You may see some wildlife as you are strolling through the park, enjoy a meal in our picnic area, or keep the kids busy on our playground.
History
The Fort Myers Villas Civic Association was incorporated in June 1961. Home construction in the Fort Myers Villas began in 1957 and a small group of concerned residents first organized as a garden club. The group eventually incorporated forming the corporation that lives on as a nonprofit today.
The 3.6 acre parcel that makes up our grounds and the civic center building were sold to the corporation in 1961 for $10 as a gift from the developer, Foster Pate. Over the years many unselfish volunteers have made numerous contributions to the community without funding from the federal, state or county government.
As a unified voice, the association was instrumental in LEE DOT's decision to reduce the speed limit to 25, put in several stop signs, and install speed bumps on key streets in the Villas to deter cut-through traffic. We were influential in redirecting the path of John Yarbrough Linear Park between Daniels and Crystal (2005), so that it would have a positive impact on the area. The Civic Association also played a major role in overturning the County's decision to four-lane Woodland Blvd. (1991), which would have drastically altered our community. Our playground was installed making Villas Park a destination for area families. (2016) The association leadership also coordinated the effort that led to the overhaul project of the drains and swales within the entire Villas neighborhood (2018). We are currently working on a long-range beautification project to improve Villas Park even more. We are the long time Adopt-a-Road sponsor of of Crystal Drive. If you have ideas for future community outreach or projects, we would love to hear them!
Welcome!
Fort Myers Villas Flag Symbolism
Stripes
Green for growth & hope,
White for joy & glory.
Blue for Vigilance & Perseverance.
Union
Trees for the many tall & varied trees.
Blue band for the lakes.
Green band for our dense & varied landscaping.
Red sun and yellow sky for our beautiful sunsets which also signifies our strength & endurance as a community.