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Tract K — Where is it? What is it? Tract K is an 11.6 acre parcel of land located along the west side of Tigertail Court between Somerset and Century Drive.

It was donated by the Deltona Corporation to the Collier County School Board at no cost in December 1989. In all the documentation between the Deltona Corporation and the Collier County School Board, Tract K was always referred to as a “school site.” It was clearly Deltona’s intention that the land it donated be used for the public to benefit the residents of Marco Island.

Just as properties that Deltona donated are still in use by the public and being used for church sites and park sites, it was expected that property donated as a school site would be used for this purpose. In fact, according to the warranty deed, if the property is sold to any third party, proceeds are to be applied by the School Board for the benefit of the public school students of Marco Island or Marco Shores or both, to schools where they attended on Marco Island, Marco Shores, or elsewhere in Collier County.

The Marco Island Civic Association has repeatedly surveyed its members over the years with regard to the use of Tract K and the results each time showed that, by a margin of 85-15 percent, the residents of Marco Island want the land retained for public use, such as a school, cultural/civic center or park.

The City of Marco Island dealt and negotiated in good faith during 1997-98 and again in 2006 with the Collier County School Board regarding Tract K, clearly making their intentions known — retaining the property for public use for the benefit of the residents of Marco Island. The Collier County School Board took the parcel off the market both of these times. Further negotiations took place and School Board members stated their support for maintaining the property for a possible future school site. All were in agreement and understood that the residents of Marco Island wish for the land to remain in the public domain.

The 11.6 acre Tract K parcel is the last site large enough to house a school, cultural/civic center or park. A high school on Marco has been discussed continually over the years. A middle school has become a reality and Tract K is the only appropriate site for a future high school. Facilities of this type are vital to our ever-expanding population. This parcel should rightfully be used for the benefit of the residents of Marco Island and other county residents.

Tract K is zoned “residential single family,” zoning that would allow 46 houses to be built. Isn’t it time to remove the housing use from this parcel and change it to that of a public use? For this property to end up under the ownership of a developer when it was given under the above sited conditions would be a travesty to the residents of Marco Island and the Deltona Corporation.