Cape Coral beach parks could see upgrades with nearly $430K funding proposal

Parents at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral are excited about the possibility of new funding to enhance one of the city's most popular family spots. "I think there's a lot of great in investing in our children, and I think the parks are a great way to do that. There's a lot of money going into less active things for our kids these days," Amanda Reitz said. The city council is preparing to vote on whether to accept nearly $430,000 in Lee County tourist development tax funding. The money would be used to maintain Cape Coral's four beach parks. "I mean, a lot of parents come here with their little ones, so making it a one-stop shop would be nice," Amanda Gonzalez said. Lee County would match the funding as part of the agreement. "I think it's great. I've heard things on Facebook where people have had mixed opinions. But as a mom, my kids are loving it," Reitz said. After Hurricane Ian damaged the shoreline, residents believe updates to the Yacht Club area would be beneficial. "Absolutely. There's no question about it. Especially this area. People would benefit from it," Mark Baedn said. If approved, the funding would be available starting Oct. 1. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.