The wait for Cape Coral's newly renovated waterfront park is almost over. On Wednesday, Gulf Coast News got a sneak peek inside.
Check out the video above for a first look at the redesigned park.
Jaycee Park will officially reopen April 30, featuring new amenities like a lighted riverfront boardwalk, a 5,000-square-foot splash pad, and two playgrounds, including an inclusive space designed for kids of all abilities.
City leaders say the redesign focuses on enhancing the park’s river views while creating a destination for families.
“This is the first public [splash pad] amenity for people to come,” said City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn.
The project hasn’t come without criticism. Some neighbors have raised concerns about tree removal, parking and expected traffic.
"The trees that were there were over 100 years old. So right now it's barren. It's like empty. It's a little wide open," said Joe Augustino, who lives across from the park.
The city said there are more than 400 trees planted, doubling the number of trees in the original park.
“We’ve really done everything we could, taking into consideration those concerns,” Ilczyszyn said. "We worked with council members to do shade studies so that we could look at where we're planting trees."
He said the city worked to address concerns by expanding parking from 77 to 128 spaces. The park has nearly 1.5 miles of shaded walking paths, with mist stations to keep cool.
"I'm just keeping a positive attitude," said Donna Tuite, another neighbor living close to the park. "I know some people are really excited about it. We lost the shade that used to be there, but on days like today, I'll definitely walk the boardwalk."
A bistro and boat docks are also planned, but not ready yet. City leaders say they’re still working to finalize a vendor for the food space.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for May 8.
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