Alliance for the Arts – Arts Park

Following the completion of a long-term campus master plan by EnSite, Inc., Lydia Black, then executive director of the Alliance for the Arts, asked Jon Romine to lead the organization’s Campus Enrichment Committee.

As vice president and later president of the Board of Directors, Jon brought a unique blend of strategic vision, design expertise, and collaborative leadership to move the plan from concept to implementation.

Jon activated the expertise of artist board members, brokered meaningful community partnerships, and aligned stakeholders around a shared vision.

Most critically, Jon co-architected a braided funding strategy, combining state, local, philanthropic, and grant resources to make the project feasible – a testament to his skill in resource alignment and multi-sector financing.

Phase 1 includes:

• The “Caloosahatchee Water Wall” by internationally renowned artist Michael Singer, a sculptural water feature honoring the region’s watershed and environmental legacy
• A new multi-use path bridging a pedestrian gap along McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, FL, improving campus access and walkability
• Native landscaping ecosystems that reflect the biodiversity of Southwest Florida
• Educational and wayfinding signage designed to enrich the visitor experience and foster cross-campus connectivity

This initiative not only elevated the Alliance’s physical space but also reinforced its role as a cultural anchor for the region. The project exemplifies Jon’s strengths in strategic planning, landscape architecture, nonprofit governance, creative placemaking, collaborative facilitation, and funding integration.