NAPLES GRANDE WATER PARK  

MULTIPLE CHALLENGES TO ZONING INTERPRETATIONS

THE PELICAN BAY FOUNDATION JOINS THE FIGHT

April 20th, 2026

The No Waterpark Coalition (NWC) is pleased to announce the following:

On Friday,separately, the Pelican Bay Foundation and Bay Villas Association filed multiple challenges to Collier County Official Interpretations (OIs).  These filings strike at the heart of  the Naples Grande’s proposed 3.3 acre, publicly-accessible,  waterpark. In totality, these filings assert that the waterpark is fundamentally impermissible.

• Not Permitted Under the PUD
  The PUD allows only “hotel and motel.” The appeal asserts the County improperly relied on a broader “destination resort hotel” definition not included in the PUD and requests that this classification be rejected as a basis for approval.
• Not a Customary Accessory Use
  The proposed expansion—including multiple pools, a lazy river, water slides, and a dedicated entrance—exceeds what is incidental and subordinate to a hotel and instead functions as a standalone recreational attraction.
• Not allowed to have non-overnight hotel guests aka the public
  Opening the facility to non-overnight hotel guests would create a standalone commercial operation, more akin to a water park—a use not permitted under the PUD.
• Exceeds What Is Customary
  Nearby properties such as The Ritz-Carlton, Naples and Inn at Pelican Bay do not operate public water park-style amenities.
• Injurious to, Not in Harmony with, and Detrimental  to the Neighborhood
  Increased traffic, parking demand, noise, and intensity of use.

The PUD does NOT permit a waterpark, and any attempt to construct one should undergo a PUD amendment process.

Regina Hackett, a 95 year old resident of Bay Villas, which is adjacent to the proposed Waterpark, said “ I’m so glad to see both Bay Villas and the Pelican Bay Foundation stand up to these private equity guys, including one based in London, Henderson Park”. “They don’t have the right to build it. They don’t have the right to destroy my property values and quality of life!”

Lew Merletti from Bay Villas, said “We fully expect to prevail in our appeals.”  “We believe the County Commissioners will stand behind their public statements and support our efforts. The legal facts are with us.”  “Although we certainly respect property rights, we fundamentally reject any argument that a publicly accessible, 3.3 acre water  park is allowable in our dense, environmentally-sensitive neighborhood”.

Patrick Wack, President of the Seagate Property Owners’ Association, and a leader of the No Water Park Coalition said, “Despite calling it a water park in County filings and numerous public presentations, the hotel has now pivoted to calling it a "pool amenity", just like its  rear pools.  At best this is disingenuous. The proposed water park is massive.  It still has  three 25' slides, a separate entrance pavilion with numerous lockers, a kids' splash pad with 4 slides, a lazy river (capacity of 390 people), a kids pavilion, a bar, and 80 loudspeakers—If it looks like a water park, splashes like a water park, and makes noise like it’s a water park, it’s a water park!!”

Wack added, “Furthermore,the  hotel has now changed its sales pitch. Claiming that it will not be open to the public, yet in the same breath saying it will sell day passes to non-overnight hotel guests.  By any common sense definition, this is the public.  Although the hotel has refused to disclose the water park’s capacity, it could easily approach 1,000 people. It even has a separate entrance pavilion with numerous lockers”

“We will continue to battle the two private equity funds, including one that’s based in London, Henderson Park that want to make a short term dollar at the long term expense of residents”

ABOUT THE NO WATERPARK COALITION https://www.stopngwaterpark.com/

The group is an alliance of over 10,000 residents, including  residents of Pelican Bay, Seagate, Park Shore, Naples Cay, and the Gulf Shore Association of Condominiums.  This group has gathered over 5,000 signatures opposing the project, and raised over $150k to fight it.

The NWC believes that the proposed water park is not allowable, customary or compatible with the neighborhood. Furthermore, The Pelican Bay PUD requires (among other things) that any site plan “be in harmony with the general intent and purpose of the PUD and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or adjoining properties or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare”

Within a half mile of the proposed waterpark is a pre-school, an elementary school, two churches, Clam Pass Park,and the Waterside Shops. Many residences are  less than 150’  away.  A church memorial garden is less than 300’  away.”

Beyond the fundamental questions of zoning and neighborhood compatibility, this project has numerous flaws:

• Noise from splashing water, screams, power washing, water pumps, and loud music from over 80 speakers.
• Creation of flooding risks in an AE zone
• Usage of incredible amounts of water, while Southwest Florida faces a long-term water crisis and a short-term drought
• Generation of more traffic by public usage around the already overburdened Seagate Drive and a notoriously dangerous intersection
• Inadequate parking creating traffic and safety concerns
• Potential structural damage from as many as four hundred 30 to 50 foot pilings.
• It competes with a nearby County water park, which cost millions of dollars to repair.

This is a battle for the soul of our neighborhoods. We will continue to fight the hotels and its private equity owners.