LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but what about the problematic pothole?
Someone in a Florida neighborhood took matters into their own hands, planting a banana tree in a large pothole in the middle of a Fort Myers road.
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Last week, Bryan Raymond planted the tree in a stubborn pothole along Honda Drive just off U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers. Raymond, who owns Progress and Pride Fitness Group, said the idea of planting a banana tree ripened in his mind after having to fill holes in the street with cement multiple times.
Because Honda Drive is a private street, county officials said, it’s up to the business owners to maintain the street.
For Raymond, the banana tree is an attention-grabbing repair.
“If we have to maintain it and make sure nobody gets hurt, we are going to put something obvious there to make sure nobody gets in the hole,” Raymond told television station WBBH.
For some time, Raymond’s security cameras have caputured problems along the street, including a pothole damaging cars and floodwaters causing his trash bin to float away.
But while the tree appears to be a creative answer to the issue, some drivers say the tree is causing more problems because the street is narrow and it’s a challenge to get around it.
Officials said the roadway is private, so it’s not their issue to resolve.
There’s no word whether anyone will properly fix the pothole.