Billy's Creek is a freshwater tributary to the Caloosahatchee River, meeting that mighty waterway immediately north of the twin bridge spans connecting Fort Myers to Pine Island and Cape Coral. Billy's Creek is an authentic urban waterway that meanders through the City of Fort Myers, Florida. Fort Myers is legendary for attracting boaters, fishermen, and water enthusiasts, and Billy's Creek is ideal for these uses.
Friends of Billy's Creek exists to protect Billy's Creek and its unique assets. Listed below are some main points of interest for our group.
* Billy's Creek is a mangrove arched waterway, potentially unique in all of Florida as it actually penetrates an American city. Billy's Creek follows a course through the City of Fort Myers, offering boating and water access opportunities to segments of the population that are often marginalized from the boating scene. Billy's Creek is viewed and enjoyed by a wide variation of society, from wealthy riverside dwellers, to tourists visiting Fort Myers, to disadvantaged children who play along its banks near the creek's furthest reaches.
* Billy's Creek, partly from the volunteer efforts of Friends of Billy's Creek, is today a beautiful stream that supports a wide array of environments, including mangroves, palm trees and live oak trees. It is easy to navigate and explore with a boat or kayak, and is ideal for family picnics and fishing.
* Friends of Billy's Creek have initiated a number of high-profile community clean-ups as well as historical and ecological tours. These efforts have evolved the waterway to a popular destination for local residents as well as water enthusiasts visiting Fort Myers.
* Friends of Billy's Creek understands the importance and value of educating the public, policy makers, and regulatory officials about their mission.
* Beyond the local value of what is now a beautiful, peaceful waterway, Billy's Creek stands as a high-profile example of what can be accomplished by dedicated volunteers with good leadership. The successes of FOB are now respected by the community, the media and by policymakers from Fort Myers to Tallahassee to Washington D.C.