Fort
Myers started as one of the first forts built along the Caloosahatchee River. It
was a base of operations against the Seminole Indians during the American
Indian Wars. During the Seminole Wars, Fort Myers was a strategic location for
its visibility and access to Atlantic waterways. After the wars, Confederate
blockade runners and cattle ranchers called Fort Myers home. The winter homes
of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford are a primary tourist attraction in the region.
In
Fort Myers, they have an Environmental Science Division and their mission is to
provide a responsible management of the natural resources to the town of Fort
Myers. They also are accountable for improving the future health and
sustainability of the town through regulations, education, informed management,
and cooperation with citizens and business. However, economic forces control
the efforts of environmental and historical conservation. A prime example of
this would be the Hall of the 50 States.
The
Hall, which has been empty for nearly a decade, was built in 1927 as a dance
hall and community center where historic figures used to appear and partake in
local events. As of now, there has been a ten to fifteen year debate on whether
to restore this historic monument or to destroy it completely. Either way, as
time passes, the building is slowly deteriorating and in order to refurbish the
structure it would cost the county millions of dollars that some feel the money
should go to other more important uses.
Fort
Myers, just like any other city, has its ups and downs; it also has examples of
biophobia, biophilia and topophilia. Biophobia, or the dislike of nature, is
shown to me whenever I see new construction taking place such as the building
of new roads, shopping malls, restaurants etc. where they are tearing up the
greenery and the land to make way for our own selfish desires. On the other
hand, Fort Myers does have plenty of models of biophilia, or the love of the
natural world, such as the conservation of the six mile cypress, environmentally
friendly parks, nature trails etc where they preserve as much of the natural
land as possible and promote others to do the same.
After seeing biophilia actions in Fort Myers like the ones I just described that, in
turn, gives me a strong feel of topophilia or a strong sense of place. When I
was growing up, the few things I remember from my childhood was playing outside
all the time from day until dusk. I even recall my parents almost “forcing” me
to either come back inside to do homework or eat yet I was enjoying the
outdoors so much that I wouldn’t want to. This aspect of my life ties into the
university colloquium goals since the main goal is “to provide a sense of place”
and I believe that I have. The land, the grass, the sun and even the bugs are
all things that I am accustomed to and I still, to this day, feel that the
surrounding environment is connected to me just like a sense cultural identity and
it makes the love that I have for it even stronger. “We relate to the
environment around us in different ways, with differing intensity, and these
bonds have different sources. At the most common level, we learn to love what
has become familiar” (Orr, 193).
References
Orr, David W. "Love
It or Lose It: The Coming Biophilia Revolution." Earth in Mind: On
Education,Environment, and the Human Prospect. Washington, DC: Island, 1994.
186-211. Print.
Located along the Caloosahatchee River, this park gives Fort Myers citizens an opportunity to be close to nature.
Created by Marlin Miller in 2011, this oak tree was originally suppose to be cut down by officials however it was turned into a beautiful sculpture and placed here in Fort Myers.
The Banyan tree was planted in Fort Myers by Thomas Edison in 1925. The tree covers 400 feet and is the 3rd largest in the world.
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