The Historic Edison Park Subdivision is located in Fort Myers, Florida.
It began as a raw 168-acre expanse of saw palmetto and scrub vegetation - and it took over 50 years to fully develop - from Florida’s Boom Time through the Baby Boom years. Edison Park meanders between the “Tamiami Trail” - i.e., US 41/Cleveland Ave. - and the historic scenic state highway McGregor Boulevard - directly across from Thomas Edison's & Henry Ford’s winter estates.
The “north one-third” of Edison Park, the oldest section, was originally developed by James D. Newton, new junior friend of Thomas Edison. Aspired to be "the most beautiful residential section of the city", Edison Park’s grand entrance along McGregor Blvd. features a sculptural interpretation of a Grecian maiden fountain. The statue was crafted by artist Helmuth vonZengen to greet folks as they passed through the gateway into the subdivision. It was completed just before the grand opening of Edison Park - which took place on April 7, 1926. Thomas Edison, himself, was Guest of Honor, along with his wife, Mina,
Edison Park’s early marketing mantra was “BUILT TO ENDURE!” - and endure it has! In 1995, it was designated Fort Myers’ first Local Historic District, by the newly-formed Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission.
