
In attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Tigertail’s new observation tower: (Front row, from left) Maura Kraus, Collier County principal environment specialist, Jeanine McPherson, assistant director Collier County Parks & Recreation,County Commissioner Donna Fiala, Marco Island City Councilman BobBrown, Steve Carnell, department head, Collier County Public Services Department; (Back row, from left) Collier County Parks & Recreation Director Barry Williams, and John Fuchs, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member.
One of Marco Island’s jewels just got shinier. What better than a beachside park that features a great playground for kids, a café with great food, and a rental hut, which not only rents paddle boards, kayaks, and water toys, but can teach you how to use them? Well, Collier County and the Tourist Development Council just made our jewel of Tigertail Beach even better by adding a wildlife observation tower so you can have amazing views of the wildlife habitat, the beach, and even an osprey nesting on a platform nearby.
The observation tower

The tower’s two decks offer amazing views of Tigertail Beach. PHOTOS BY VAL SIMON
Members of the Friends of Tigertail were represented,

Russ Columbo peeks through the telescopeat the wildlife observation tower.
Collier County installed the tower with Tourist Development Council funding of approximately $36,000, endorsed by Commissioner Donna Fiala. The 32-acre park is a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and is considered extremely critical to nesting and wintering shorebirds.
The tower is wheelchair accessible and offers decks on two levels, each with a telescope for clear viewing of the surrounding critical wildlife. The osprey nest platform is presently occupied. The tower is perfect viewing height for activity in the nest.
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