The historic banyan tree in downtown Bonita Springs has a brand-new setting. Banyan Square, the City's new park around the tree on Old 41 Road, opened in late October 2026, with an official ribbon cutting on October 29, 2026. It sits directly across from Riverside Park, in the heart of downtown.
A Landmark Tree, Front and Center
The banyan tree is more than a century old and is one of Bonita Springs' best-loved landmarks, often called the second-oldest banyan in Southwest Florida after the one at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. For years, a sheriff's substation sat in the middle of the square. The City replaced it with open green space designed to put the tree back at the center of downtown life.
A Splash Pad by Day
During the day, the splash pad is a play fountain, with water jets reaching up to six feet, a cool place for children and families to enjoy the outdoors. The City uses a filtration and chlorination system similar to a community pool to keep the water clean.
Fountain Shows by Night
After dark, Banyan Square becomes a light and water show. Seventy-four lights and nozzles send water up to 20 feet into the air in patterns choreographed to music. More lights on the banyan and on a neighboring oak tree are synchronized with the fountain, and four speakers surround the plaza.
Decorated for Every Holiday
Banyan Square is decorated for every holiday. It opened in time for fall festival and trick-or-treat season, dressed for Halloween, and its first fountain show was choreographed for the City's Happy Haunts Halloween Stroll. In December it is part of the Holiday Stroll, and each spring Celebrate Bonita fills the square with inflatables, projections and music. On event nights, it is action-packed and jammed with people.
Part of a Growing Downtown
Banyan Square joins Riverside Park, the restaurants and live music along Old 41 Road and the Imperial River to make downtown Bonita Springs a lively place to spend an evening. Park once and walk to dinner, a concert and the fountain show. The tree has long been a favorite spot of ours; see our earlier post on the banyan tree at Riverside Park.
Living Near Downtown Bonita Springs
Many visitors who fall in love with downtown start wondering what it would be like to live close by. Neighborhoods near downtown include Nuttinglikit Grove, Heitmans, Hawthorne and Villages of Bonita. For more on the area, see our guide to downtown Bonita Springs homes and lifestyle.
To talk about homes near downtown Bonita Springs, call or text 239-273-7430.