Cape Coral Rowing Club denied use of Tropicana Park by city council

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

The Cape Coral City Council denied the rowing club's request to practice at Tropicana Park during a meeting on Wednesday night, leaving a promised dock unused and young rowers without a launch site.

"I think everyone would agree that the environment is incredibly oppressive. I mean, the kids were just amazed. I would see them turn their heads with their eyes wide like saucers. I can't believe this is happening," said Saundra Weston, president of the Cape Coral Rowing Club.

Weston, her rowers, and supporters sat through hours of city council discussion about the club's use of Tropicana Park. Mayor John Gunter made his position clear during the meeting.

"For me, it is very simple. I have never supported, will never support the rowing club going to Tropicana Park, and I never will support them going to Tropicana Park," Gunter said.

Weston said Gunter's stance had changed over time.

"And the man who continues to say he's been against it always voted yes for it in June of 2020. He voted yes. He's not always been against it. He's just against it now," Weston said.

The dock at Tropicana Park, which was promised to the rowing club, now sits unused.

Rachel Kaduck proposed a temporary solution during the meeting.

"The lease for the time being, because it's supposed to be the Seven Islands. Is the traffic or the future potential traffic? So why don't we shorten the lease for now? Let them use it, and then we can have direction to the city staff to find a permanent home. Yeah, I like that idea," Kaduck said.

Weston took reporters out on the water to show the brand-new dock sitting empty. During the outing, only two boats passed by.

"The safety agreement has been tried and debunked," Weston said.

Some city council members supported keeping the rowing club's lease in place until a permanent home could be found.

"Because some of us still feel that Tropicana is the best place, at least temporarily. You know, I'm trying to figure out a way we can compromise," Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said before Gunter cut her off.

"This motion fails. Somebody else can make another motion," Gunter said.

For the young rowers, including two who recently won a state championship, the decision means they will not get the chance to launch their boats from Tropicana Park.

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