Don Eslick Honored by Lee County

February 20, 2007
Don Eslick was awarded the 2006 Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year Award. Below are some photos from the presentation. The News-Press reported:

Don Eslick, the Estero activist who has helped shape growth in his south Lee County community, on Tuesday won the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award. County commissioners honored Eslick at their meeting for his work with two volunteer, citizens' advisory groups — the Estero Council of Community Leaders and Estero Community Planning Panel — as well as the county's Smart Growth Committee. He is the 19th recipient of this annual award.

"It's so important to provide incentives to participate" in government, said Eslick, 72, who seemed proud and humbled at the same time. Eslick often meets with local officials, whether it is about finding a way to get U.S. 41 widened before Wal­Mart is built, creating design standards for the new Coconut Point shopping center or fighting for environmental protection where a Coconut Road interchange has been discussed. Eslick declined to take all the credit for Estero's success.

"I know I'm always the one the press talks to ... but it's more a reflection on the community and all the people we have willing to spend time to make the community better," he said. "It is an honor and I'd like to share it as much as possible with everyone."

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