Welcome to Punta Gorda Life

Welcome to Punta Gorda Life

PHOTO BY: ALICIA OATES

Welcome to Punta Gorda is the one Florida town that offers something for everyone. Its progressive, forward-thinking commitment to economic success serves as the foundation for a community rooted in the best of American, small-town attributes. Punta Gorda’s historic ambiance and intimate feeling are the backdrop for what may be the state’s most picturesque, enjoyable and accessible waterfront destination. From the moment you arrive, you realize Punta Gorda is special. It’s not just the beautiful outdoors and vibrant urban energy. It’s the people. Punta Gorda promises what so many people are looking for in Florida, a laid-back community where residents know one another, engage with one another and enjoy life together in what may be Florida’s most relaxed tropical, harbor-side destination.

Welcome home!

Punta Gorda City Cit Ci ty D Departments epar ep arttmen ar men ents ts aare re eeasily asil as ilyy ac il acc accessible cess essib ib ibl ble le tto o residents of the City of Punta Gorda at www.cityofpuntagordafl.com.

Billing and Collections (941) 639-2528 pgcollections@pgorda.us Building (941) 575-3324 buildingdept@pgorda.us Canal Maintenance (941) 575-5050 pubworks@pgorda.us CHNEP (941) 575-5090 chnep@pgorda.us City Clerk (941) 575-3369 cityclerk@pgorda.us City Manager (941) 575-3302 citymgr@pgorda.us Code Compliance (941) 575-3352 code@pgorda.us Engineering (941) 575-5050 pubworks@pgorda.us Finance (941) 575-3318 financedept@pgorda.us Fire (941) 575-5529 fireadministrators@pgorda.us Human Resources (941) 575-3308 humanresources@pgorda.us Information Technology (941) 575-3333 it@pgorda.us Legal (941) 575-3307 legal@pgorda.us Parks and Grounds (941) 575-5050 pubworks@pgorda.us Police (941) 639-4111 policeadmins@pgorda.us Procurement (941) 575-3366 pgpurch@pgorda.us Public Works (941) 575-5050 pubworks@pgorda.us Right of Way (941) 575-5050 pubworks@pgorda.us Sanitation (941) 575-5050 pubworks@pgorda.us Urban Design (941) 575-3372 urbandesign@pgorda.us Utilities (941) 575-3339 utility@pgorda.us Zoning (941) 575-3314 zoning@pgorda.us

Harborwalk Punta Gorda Harborwalk established in 2010, is situated along scenic Charlotte Harbor. The Harborwalk encompasses approximately three Miles of Punta Gorda Pathways. This signature feature connects East Punta Gorda at Bayfront Health to West Punta Gorda at Fisherman’s Village with safe means of access under both US 41 Bridges. Featured destination points along the Harborwalk include: Laishley Park Marina | Interactive Fountain | Veterans Memorial Garden | Restaurants, Shops & Hotels | Spirit of Punta Gorda | Gilchrist Park | Trabue Park | Fishing Pier | Connection to Linear Park | AC C Fr Free Freeman eema man n Ho House ous usee | Ch Char Charlotte arlo ar lott lo ttee H tt Ha Harbor arb rbor or E Eve Event ven n & Conference Center er

Linear Park The City’s Linear Park transformed the historic railroad right-of-way, once the southern terminus of railroad service on the western coast of Florida, into a scenic trail. Connecting the Harborwalk, to the north, to US 41 at the southern end of downtown, the path traverses for approximately two miles through the City’s historic neighborhood district. Assessable from Linear Park Pathways are:

Fishermen’s Village | Visual Arts Center | Sculpture Park | Parks That Teach | Fitness Zone | Restaurants & Shops | Connection to Harborwalk & MURT

Multi-Use Recreation Trail Approximately four miles long the US 41 Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT) provides visitors and residents an opportunity to connect to neighborhoods and commercial areas south of the historic core of Punta Gorda: Burnt Store Meadows | Seminole Lakes | History Park | Punta Gorda Library | Hounds on Henry (Dog Park) | Muscle Car Museum | Burnt Store Isles | Golf Course | YMCA | Shopping & Dining | Connection to Linear Park

Our History

The City of Punta Gorda was founded in 1884 when on the instructions of Isaac Trabue, surveyor Kelly Harvey began working on the subdivision of Trabue which was filed in Manatee County on February 24, 1885. With streets and blocks arranged along the southern shores of the Peace River at its mouth on Charlotte Harbor. Every waterfront block was designated as a park, a legacy that serves the City to this day with a string of public parks connected by Harborwalk, a 2.5 mile long public promenade. Incorporated on December 7, 1887 after the arrival of the railroad and the construction of the Hotel Punta Gorda, the little city thrived on winter seasonal visitors, agricultural trade, and commercial fishing. Punta Gorda’s fortunes ebbed and flowed along with the national economy and the Florida Real Estate cycle of boom and bust through World War II when the Punta Gorda airfield was constructed to train aircrews. After the war in the late 1950’s another boom began with new subdivisions platted with canals connected to Charlotte Harbor in the Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles neighborhoods. These new subdivisions drew retirees from the north attracted by winter sunshine, bountiful recreational fishing, and spectacular boating opportunities. With a small town feel, waterfront parks, system of pathways for walking and bicycling, and a collection of independent shops and restaurants, Punta Gorda continues to benefit from the preservation of its rich and unique history.

Learn n more more at at http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/about/history.

There are a myriad of organizations dedicated to the promotion of Arts, Culture and History in the community visit http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/visitors/arts-and-culture or https://explorepuntagorda.com/live-here/music-fine-art/.

Our Goverence The City of Punta Gorda is a Council-Manager form of government, which combines the political leadership of elected officials with the managerial experience of an administrator. City Council acts as the legislative branch and operates in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter. They are responsible for setting the policy in which the City Manager carries out through the City departments.

Five Council members serve for a two-year term. Council members are elected at-large in staggered terms. This means all registered voters that are residents of the City of Punta Gorda can vote for each individual Council seat. Elections are held in November.

The Mayor and Vice-Mayor are elected by the City Council at the first meeting held after an election.

The Mayor presides at all meetings and performs duties delegated to the Mayor by the City Council. City Council meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers (located on the first floor of City Hall).

Meetings are also live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Qo-k4PpXWo4IJQah6_Kqw?view_as=subscriber.

Outdoor Living Year-round tropical sea breezes and mild temperature make Punta Gorda the ideal spot for all things outdoors! Forty percent of the city’s land area is actually nature preserves. Whether pedaling around with the Team Punta Gorda’s free bike-loaner program, taking a stroll along the Punta Gorda Pathways, playing tennis or pickleball – if it’s outdoors, Punta Gorda does it with style. Punta Gorda is a bike friendly, walking community. Its network of pedestrian-friendly trails links historic neighborhoods, parks, and our downtown. Punta ys are are an an 18-mile 188 mil ilee loop loop p of of groomed ggrroo oome med d shared Gorda Pathways th welcome multi use pathss that rs,, a walkers. pets, bike riders, and

Let’s not forget about the water! In Punta Gorda you can fish in crystal clear waters, sail the beautiful Charlotte Harbor, or kayak through lush mangrove tunnels. Punta Gorda is located along the shores of Charlotte Harbor, an idyllic boater’s paradise. Accessible parks and preserves, boat launches, and picnic areas invite family excursions. A complete list of City Parks p p g and Pathways is available at: http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/ /gil /g ilch chri rist ri stt-p par arkk visitors/gilchrist-park

Fitness Zone The Fitness Zone at Linear Park are located between W. Retta Esplanade and W. Olympia Avenue. There are three outdoor gym in multiple mul ulti tipl plee piec pi eces es of of adult ad fitness areas that contain pieces tota to tall piec pi ec with activequipment (17 total pieces) ities designed to target the upper body, core, lower body and the cardiovascular system and is safe for use for persons 14 years of age dl of ability. and older, regardless

Bicycle Routes BR – Bridges A 30 mile ride runs over 13 bridges in the Punta Gorda area including a round trip over beautiful Charlotte Harbor.

TG – Tropical Gulf A 31 mile ride runs south to the Webb-Babcock National Wildlife Refuge and back to historic Downtown Punta Gorda.

PG – Punta Gorda A 17 mile ride runs west from Downtown Punta Gorda through the beautiful Punta Gorda Isles neighborhood, then east past Florida SouthWestern State College, and back Downtown.

WL – Washington Loop A 30 mile ride runs east from downtown past the Punta Gorda Airport on a scenic route in the countryside around Washington Loop Rd and Riverside Dr.

Bicycling on Roadways Bicyclists are allowed on all roadways in Florida except where specifically prohibited Bicyclists operating on roadways have all the rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle under Florida Law Bicyclists have the right to occupy the travel lane if the travel lane is not wide enough for the safe passage of both a vehicle and a bicycle A vehicle passing a bicycle must give a minimum of 3 feet of clearance to the bicyclist A vehicle may legally cross a double yellow line in order to pass a bicycle

Location, Location, Location, Punta Gorda is located in Southwest Florida approximately 100 miles south of Tampa and 24 miles north of Fort Myers on beautiful Charlotte Harbor in Charlotte County. Come visit us by air, land or sea.

Major Airports: The Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) PGD is off I-75 on Florida’s southwest coast between Sarasota and Fort Myers. Allegiant provides low-cost, nonstop air service to more than 45 destinations.

Operated by the Charlotte County Airport Authority, PGD is an important transportation and economic asset for the region, providing hundreds of onsite jobs, space for business and aviation tenants, and more than $1.275 billion in total economic output.

The airport also serves general aviation needs. Southwest Florida Regional Airport (RSW), Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), or Tampa International Airport (TPA) are also in reasonable driving distance.

Driving: From the North - Take Interstate 75 to Exit 164 and head West into Downtown; or take U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) into Downtown. From the South - Take Interstate 75 to Exit 161 and head West to US Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail), turn right and head North through the U.S.41 business corridor. From the East East - Take Tak akee U.S. U.S. Hwy Hwyy 17 17 (Duncan (Dun (D unca can n Road) Road Ro ad)) West.

Boating: Lat/Lon: Near 26 56.4000 N North h / 82 03.100 W West Area A Marinas: Laishley Park Municipal Marina, Fishermen’s Village Yacht ach chtt Basin Basi Ba sin n & Marina, Mari Ma rina na,, and and Punta Punt ntaa Gorda Goord Gord rdaa Marina Mari Ma rina na

Dining and Entertainment Punta Gorda is the urban hubb ooff Ch Char Charlotte arlo ar lott lo ttee Co tt Coun County, unty un tyy, Florida and it lives up to the task. Exciting and unique restaurants line the streets of downtown, where foodies can enjoy everything from fast food to fine dining. Just a few minutes outside downtown is destination resort and a hometown hangg out for visitors and locals alike.

Fishermen’s Village Resort and Marina can fill a day, define an evening, or pack the itinerary of an extended stay. On the weekends, the Saturday Punta Gorda Farmers Market is a great place for fresh produce, but it is also a social happening where neighbors connect and converse, and enjoy music, the arts, and culture.

On Sunday a Market is held at History Park. At night, a different side of Punta Gorda comes to life. According to the Miami Herald, “when the sun goes down in Punta Gorda, put on your dancing shoes.” And hopefully they double as walking shoes. From beach boogie to acoustic jams to classic rock, the downtown core gets an unexpected groove on as day turns to night.” Punta Gorda may be a small city, but when it comes to restaurants and nightlife it can be larger than life. You can even take in the feeling of the islands at a tiki bar.

For Dining and Entertainment options visit: https://puntagordachamber.com/ and http://charlottecountychamber.org/. Event & Festival listings are also available at http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/visitors/events-festivals.

Emergency Services: Punta Gorda Police Department (941) 639-4111 Emergency Dial 911 The Punta Gorda Police Department a full-service police agency with 38 sworn personnel, 18 professional staff, 4 reserve officers, and over 80 volunteers. The City of Punta Gorda is the only incorporated city in Charlotte County, Florida encompassing 32 square miles including water and has a population of approximately 19,761 residents. The Punta Gorda Police Department is comprised of several units that serve our community: Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Community Services, Marine Patrol, K-9, Communications, Records, Volunteers in Policing, and others. The department has been accredited since May 27, 1998 and has received Excelsior status with the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation three times - most recently on June 26, 2019.

The City of Punta Gorda has consistently ranked in the top ten of the safest cities in Florida. The Punta Gorda Police Department partners with our community to share information, address issues, and enhance the quality of life for those who live, work, and play in our city. We are located at the Public Saftey Building 1410 Tamiami Tr., Punta Gorda, Florida 33950

Learn more at http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/government/police.

Punta Gorda Fire Department (941) 575-5529 Emergency Dial 911 The Punta Gorda Fire Department is a community- oriented, career fire/rescue service dedicated to providing a broad spectrum of public services. The Department strives to meet the challenges presented by public needs and demands for a progressive and high quality fire organization. The function of the Fire Department is to protect lives and property through fire prevention, medical life support, fire suppression, hazardous materials response/identification, water rescue, and other emergency incidents during both natural and man-made emergencies in the most effective, professional and efficient manner possible.

The Fire Department has grown from an all-volunteer organization to a combination department with three stations and twenty-four paid Firefighter-EMT/Paramedics. Stations are manned twenty-four hours a day in three eight-man shifts.

Ambulance service (EMS) is provided by Charlotte County Fire/EMS. There are ambulances housed in our Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 3. The department has also maintained the Punta Gorda Volunteer Fire Association with active volunteer firefighters.

Station 1 Station 2 Station 3

1410 Tamiami Tr. 2601 Acline Rd. 1623 Aqui Esta Dr. Learn more at http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/government/fire.

Community Services Post Office Punta Gorda Post Office locaton 130 E. Marion Ave. (941) 639-7016 Usps.com Library Punta Gorda Charlotte Library 401 Shreve St. (941) 833-5460 PuntaGordaLibrary@CharlotteCountyFL.gov Hours: Monday & Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Thursday - Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Little Free Lending located in Gilchrist Park and along the Punta Gorda Pathways Voter Registration For questions regarding voter registration, precincts and polling locations, or to request a Vote by Mail ballot, please contact the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections at 226 Taylor Street, (941) 833-5400 or visit https://www.charlottevotes.com/.

Vehicle Registration and Drivers Licensing Vehicle registration and drivers licensing is handled in Florida by the Tax Collectors Office located at 410 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda.

Call (941) 743-1350 for more information or visit https://taxcollector.charlottecountyfl.gov/.

Schools Sallie Jones Elementary School 1230 Narranja Street (941) 575-5440 Punta Gorda Middle School 1001 Education Way (941) 575-5485 Charlotte High School 1250 Cooper Street (941) 575-5450 https://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/Page/9 Higher Education Florida Southwestern University 26300 Airport Rd Punta Gorda (941) 637-5629 Florida Gulf Coast University 117 Herald Court Centre Punta Gorda (941) 505-0130

Utilities Water & Wastewater Services City of Punta Gorda (941) 575-3353 Electric Service Florida Power & Light (FPL) (941) 639-1106 Sanitation Garbage and Recycling The City of Punta Gorda provides pick up twice a week.

Call (941) 575-5050 or visit http://www.ci.puntagorda.fl.us/government/public-works/sanitation for complete sanitation information.

Community Services Charlotte County Transit: Charlotte County Transit is a shared ride curb-to-curb transit service provided to the public throughout Charlotte County. Charlotte County Transit connects with Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) system in North Port and Englewood. Call (941) 575-4000 to schedule your trip.

Chambers of Commerce Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce 252 W. Marion Avenue Punta Gorda (941) 639-3720 Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce 311 West Retta Esplanade Punta Gorda (941) 639.2222 Economic Development Charlotte County Economic Development 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 302 (941) 764-4941 https://cleared4takeoff.com Economic Development Partnership https://www.charlotteedp.com Community Foundation Charlotte County Community Foundation 227 Sullivan Street Punta Gorda (941) 637-0077 Visitors and Convention Bureau Punta Gorda Englewood Beach 1700 Tamiami Trail G-2 (941) 743-1900 https://www.pureflorida.com/ Volunteering Connection Team Punta Gorda 227 Sullivan Street (941 (9 411) 63 637377 883326 26 Local Newspapers Punta Gorda Herald 23170 Harborview Road (941) 205-1020 https://www.yoursun.com/puntagorda Florida Weekly 1205 Elizabeth Street, Unit G (941) 621-3422 http://www.floridaweekly.com

PUNTA GORDA PROMISES WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN FLORIDA, A LAID BACK COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS KNOW ONE ANOTHER, ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND ENJOY LIFE TOGETHER IN WHAT MAY BE FLORIDA’S MOST RELAXED, TROPICAL, HARBORSIDE DESTINATION.

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