Cape Coral Rowing Club scrambling after city council said no to using Tropicana Park

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

The Cape Coral Rowing Club is now weighing its options after the city council denied the club's request to train at Tropicana Park.

"They're devastated! They're devastated, because they understand the challenges," said Saundra Weston, president of the Cape Coral Rowing Club. "In a situation where I can't grow, I have no stability. I have no security. I can't attract coaches. It's hard to attract members. I mean, it's a recipe for failure."

The Cape Coral Rowing Club wanted to store their row boats and equipment at Tropicana Park for easy access to the water.

Weston argues the site at Tropicana Park was already designed for them.

Some city council members spoke in favor of moving the club to Tropicana Park on Wednesday night.

"The most responsible thing we can do is allow them to use the park for what it was built for," said Cape Coral City Council member Rachel Kaduck.

Others pushed back, noting safety concerns, opposition from residents, and a desire to move the club to Crystal Lake Park.

"You're talking maybe 40 people in the Rowing Club, yet you're talking about 1,500 people that have complained that they don't want to see the Rowing Club at Tropicana Park. I think we need to look at the majority," said Cape Coral City Council member Laurie Lehmann.

It was suggested that the Cape Coral Rowing Club could relocate to Crystal Lake Park, but there are still some real questions about how it would all float. However, Weston said if the rowing club moves in, so will their equipment and storage, which could make it difficult for members to get their boats in and out of the water.

"If the city wants to put in a state-of-the-art rowing dock like the taxpayers have already paid for at Tropicana Park and mitigate all of this, that's great," Weston said.

During the meeting, the council did not provide any direction on what's next after voting down the move to Tropicana Park.

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