Cape Coral considers grant for Skyline Boulevard sidewalk design

Cape Coral parents are advocating for additional sidewalks along Skyline Boulevard to ensure safer routes for children walking to school, as the city considers a grant to fund the design phase of the project.

Keeona Linder, a Cape Coral resident and concerned parent, said safety is her top priority.

"As a concerned parent, that's a big deal, safety," Linder said.

Linder, who lives near Skyline Boulevard, took action to protect her son.

"I had to have my son's bus stop changed to right here because they had him walking way down Skyline. I had to go up to the school and say, 'Hey, I need my son's bus stop changed because it's just too dangerous for him,'" Linder said.

Currently, sidewalks are only available on one side of Skyline Boulevard when heading south. The city is discussing adding sidewalks to the other side, stretching from Trafalgar Parkway to Pine Island Road.

Parents, including those with children attending Challenger Middle School, say the improvements are long overdue.

The sidewalks are part of the state's Safe Routes to School program, which aims to make walking to and from school safer for students.

Robin Stanwood, another Cape Coral resident, expressed frustration over the delay.

"If you're going to look at one area, you've got to look at them all," Stanwood said.

Stanwood emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety.

"There are other issues, but some of them are not as important as safety," she said.

The city said that if the item is approved at Wednesday's city council meeting, it will allow officials to accept a grant for the design phase of the sidewalk project.

The city has until 2029 to complete the design phase of the project.