Damaged dock at Horton Park in Cape Coral causes delays as city weighs repair costs

Damage to one side of the dock at Horton Park and Boat Ramp in Cape Coral has left boaters facing delays, with city officials working to determine repair costs.

Crushed dock piles and broken pier pieces remain visible at the site, surrounded by caution tape and barricades. The city reported the damage on May 20, but it is still unknown to us who caused it.

“Well, there's probably a lot of people that aren't, you know, that don't know how to drive the trailer or whatever, and they just got to learn, you know?” said Jim Pappas, a Cape Coral resident of seven years.

Pappas, who has years of boating experience, emphasized the importance of knowing how to navigate the ramp safely.

“Well, the pilings and plus the algae here because you can slip. So no, they just got to know how to maneuver the trailer in spot and get it on there and tie it down,” Pappas said.

Over the years, incidents at the ramp have included SUVs sinking while attempting to launch boats, such as one case last year. A boating expert from Boater’s Landing, who uses the dock weekly, said city officials have been assessing the damage and expressed hope that repairs will be completed soon to prevent traffic buildup, especially on weekends.

Michael Shayer, who carefully docked his pontoon boat with his wife, shared advice for those unfamiliar with the ramp.

“Oh, is that if you're inexperienced, I mean, anything can go wrong, you know? So your best bet is to. If you can pull it off with the ropes, pull it on with the ropes,” Shayer said.

The city stated that staff is working to determine the cost of repairs.