Lee County Renames Civic Center to Honor Late Commissioner Mike Greenwell

Lee County Commissioners held a moment of silence today for District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell and voted to rename the Lee County Civic Center Complex in his honor. It will now be called Mike Greenwell Regional Park.

To mark his passing, the Governor’s Office approved the county’s request to lower flags to half-staff today, Oct. 21, at all state buildings in Lee County.

Greenwell, a Lee County native, passed away on Oct. 9 at age 62. He played 12 years for the Boston Red Sox before returning home to raise a family and run a business. Appointed to the County Commission by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, he was reelected in 2024. He was especially dedicated to 4-H and youth programs.

In lieu of flowers, the Greenwell family asks that donations be made to support Lee County 4-H. Details are available at www.leegov.com/bocc/celebration-of-life, where community members can also leave messages and photos in a virtual guestbook until Oct. 31.

A Celebration of Life was held on Oct. 18 at JetBlue Park, hosted by the family, the Red Sox, and Lee County.

Greenwell spent much of his life at the Civic Center, both as a child and as a father, and later championed it during his time on the board. Commissioners said renaming it in his honor was fitting, given his deep ties to the site.

The Civic Center has been a landmark in North Fort Myers since 1975 and hosts numerous events, including the annual Southwest Florida Ag Expo.