Downtown NYE Celebration. -COURTESY PHOTO

Over the past four decades, I’ve had a front-row seat to the City of Fort Myers’ downtown transformation, first as a young police officer and now as mayor helping to guide its continued progress. Watching downtown evolve from an area that once emptied after hours into the vibrant heart of our city has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my public service career.

Beginning with a comprehensive downtown redevelopment plan in the early 2000s, the city has invested in an effort that continues to this day. But we haven’t done it alone. Public-private partnerships with organizations whose vision aligns with the city have been a key to our sustained success.

A prime example of such synergy is our partnership with the nonprofit River District Alliance (RDA). Under the leadership of Lisa Sbuttoni, who has served as president and CEO for the past eight years, RDA promotes downtown as a hub of economic, social and cultural activity, while its website (explorefortmyers.com) and social media platforms reach more than 1 million visitors a year.

With a common goal in mind, downtown merchants, residents and property owners work together to strengthen the area community, promote historic preservation, stimulate local business and produce special events that attract residents and visitors alike.

Of course, downtown’s transformation didn’t happen overnight. Decades in the making, it’s the result of a clear vision, perseverance and steady investment. Combined with strong partnerships, these efforts have shaped today’s downtown Fort Myers into a destination that’s welcoming, thriving and still moving forward.

But these efforts alone don’t create a vibrant downtown. People do. And that’s where RDA has helped propel the city’s downtown renaissance. Our partnership is one in which the City provides financial support and essential services that make special events possible by sustaining RDA’s action plans.

Together, we focus on results: Each year, RDA produces 27 events downtown, including monthly Art Walks and Music Walks, along with major community festivities like the New Year’s Eve celebration, Fourth of July and the St. Patrick’s Day Block Party. Combined, these events draw hundreds of thousands of people to downtown annually.

Such turnouts support restaurants, shops, galleries and venues well beyond a single visit. Whether it’s inviting people downtown for the many RDA events, or attracting patrons to a performance at the Florida Repertory Theatre or the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, the economic benefits ripple outward. When someone comes downtown and has a wonderful experience, they come back for lunch, bring friends to dinner or return to shop—a steady pulse that strengthens the local economy.

Mayor Kevin Anderson. -COURTESY PHOTO

City support means downtown events are free and accessible to everyone. Families, seniors, residents and visitors all share the same historic streets to listen to music, explore the local arts and culinary scene and enjoy downtown together.

Our shared vision with RDA also helps preserve what makes downtown special—growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of character. Landmark buildings, cultural institutions and locally owned businesses give our historic downtown a unique sense of place.

As we wrap up 2025, I hope you’ll help ring in the new year at our New Year’s Eve celebration, downtown at the corner of First and Hendry streets. We’ll have multiple live music performances and much more. And you won’t want to miss the annual ball drop and fireworks at midnight!

Surrounded by residents and visitors all sharing the same celebration is one of my favorite reminders of how far downtown has come. And our downtown renaissance is just getting started. Together with partners such as RDA, we’re building a future worthy of our continued investment, and I’m excited about extending our momentum into 2026. This includes the launch of a vibrant Culinary District and other planned major redevelopment projects that will further establish downtown as a signature destination.

Having seen downtown’s evolution from both sides of this multi-decade journey, I’m humbled by how far we’ve come and confident in where we’re headed. On behalf of the City of Fort Myers’ team members who serve our residents and visitors throughout the year, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026. See you downtown for the New Year’s Eve celebration!

— Kevin Anderson is mayor of the City of Fort Myers