Wildfire risk is up. Water is scarce. The landscape across Southwest Florida is taking a real hit from the drought and the recent cold snaps. Scientists have spent years trying to predict droughts, but it’s not like tracking a hurricane or a big storm. There’s no single warning sign. By last February, the rain had faded away. Then a heat dome settled in for the summer and just stayed. The usual rainy season never came, leaving Fort Myers more than a foot short on rainfall. Now, drought covers the region.

Half of Florida’s counties have burn bans right now. That means no campfires, no burning trash, as the soil is bone dry, right down to the top eight inches.

Lee County has a Water Smart rule: water your lawn only once a week. Odd-numbered addresses get Saturdays, even numbers get Sundays. And you can only water before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m., never during the heat of the day or on weekdays.

Skip raking up your grass clippings, as they act as a natural fertilizer if you leave them after mowing. Mulch helps too; it keeps moisture in, blocks weeds, and shields your plants. And don’t forget to pick up after your pets. Pet waste that washes into waterways can spark dangerous algae blooms.

“Don’t panic,” the county says. “Just follow these steps to keep your yard healthy through the dry season.”

For more information, go to the Florida Forest Service website at fdacs.gov.

The post No Relief in Sight: Southwest Florida’s 25-Year Worst Drought Tightens Grip on Lee County appeared first on Englewood Review.

You probably think little about hospitals or clinics until suddenly you need one. In Southwest Florida, health care leaders are keenly aware of just how fast demand is rising. That’s why the region is in the middle of a billion-dollar building spree, pouring money into new hospitals, specialty centers, and the latest medical tech.

Drive through anywhere in Southwest Florida, and you can’t miss the cranes and construction. These high-budget projects aren’t just a response to today’s needs; they’re a sign that the population boom here is nowhere near slowing down. Long gone is the image of Southwest Florida as just a sleepy retirement haven. Now, families with kids and people of all ages are moving in, each bringing their own healthcare needs.

Look at the numbers. Collier County had about 424,000 people in 2025, and experts at the University of Florida project it’ll hit nearly half a million by 2040. Lee County? Double that. Around 836,000 residents last year, expected to top one million within the next 15 years.

People here live longer, too. Collier boasts the highest life expectancy in Florida, almost 84 years, compared to the state average of just under 79. That extra five years adds up, pushing demand for medical services even higher.

“As our region keeps growing, we’re focused on smart investments that meet both today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges,” says Paul Hiltz, president and CEO of Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH). “From expanding specialized care to modernizing our facilities and upgrading technology, we’re committed to bringing top-notch, patient-centered care close to home.”

A lot of these projects have been in progress for years. The largest project is Lee Health’s new hospital in central Fort Myers. It’s a massive $824 million project and will be the largest of its kind in the area. Not far behind is NCH’s new cardiac and stroke center, with a $295 million price tag.

Then there’s the tech side. Southwest Florida Proton, based in Estero, just rolled out its $30 million IBA ProteusONE, a cutting-edge Belgian technology that delivers proton therapy for tough-to-treat cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue. It’s the first center like it on Florida’s west coast, and one of only 46 in the country. Officials expect patients from all over Florida and beyond.

Not every project receives management from private companies or nonprofits like Lee Health and NCH. Two government-backed efforts are moving forward in Collier County: one expanding mental health services and another building a state-run nursing home for veterans.

So what’s the status with Lee Health’s big new campus in Fort Myers? The $824 million hospital is rising on a 53-acre site at Colonial and Jones Walker boulevards. When it opens, expected in fall 2028, it’ll offer 236 private rooms, with space to add more. They’re holding a topping-off ceremony on March 9.

Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and CEO of Lee Health, says the region’s explosive growth makes expanding health care services urgent. Lee Health is already a $3.5 billion system, with four acute-care hospitals totaling 1,800 beds and a 135-bed regional children’s hospital. 

Patient rooms will feature the latest smart tech for both clinical care and comfort. The project also includes a medical office for the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute, with specialty clinics and a rehab gym, plus an ambulatory surgery center boasting 18 operating rooms for outpatient procedures.

Over at NCH, the new cardiac and stroke center broke ground in June 2025 at the NCH Baker Hospital campus on Seventh Street North. Construction should take about two years, with a target completion in late 2027.

The R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center stands five stories tall and spans 189,000 square feet, bringing heart and stroke care together in one place. Hospital leaders say the center features groundbreaking technology and represents a major step forward for patient care.

Philanthropy made most of this possible. The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation donated $20 million, and that’s why the center bears the Schulze name. Richard M. Schulze, founder of Best Buy and a Naples local, played a key role.

Consultants at NCH expect inpatient heart and stroke care to grow by 13%, with outpatient services jumping by 33%. Planning the center took four years. City of Naples officials pored over the plans, reviewed every detail, and required several rounds of revisions before finally giving their approval.

Whether you’re new to Southwest Florida or have lived here for years, expect to see a lot more happening in health care, and more options close to home.

The post Groundbreakings to Grand Openings: Inside Southwest Florida’s Medical Expansion appeared first on Englewood Review.