The city of Cape Coral will begin construction Monday on its second public beach, this one at Four Freedoms Park.
The 16,000 square-foot beach will be constructed by CW Roberts Inc. and is expected to be completed in early February. The total cost is $48,785, with the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency contributing $41,785.
John Jacobsen, executive director for the CRA, said he’s looking forward to the completed project. He said that one of the things Cape Coral is lacking is more access to the waterfront.
“We are looking forward to getting this done and enjoying more activities in downtown,” Jacobsen said.
Jacobsen hopes this new project will be an attraction for people in the area and will help make downtown Cape Coral a destination. The new beach will also open up the park to water activites such as kayaking or small-craft sailing.
“The beach attracts new residents, new residents attract new businesses and new businesses create jobs and economic growth,” he said. “On any 70-degree day, you’ll see lots of people there.”
The project design will incorporate existing picnic shelters and landscaping while adding additional landscaping and access to Bimini Basin. Activities at the park will not be impacted, but the city warns visitors to be aware of the project and to maintain a safe distance from the work area.
City Councilman Marty McClain, who backed the project, is excited to break ground on the beach, which is only about three miles from the city’s other beach at the Yacht Club. He said he feels city officials took their time with making sure the project will run correctly and smoothly.
“It’s a great (addition) to the area. I think people will truly enjoy it,” McClain said.
McClain said the beach’s appeal will only grow as the city moves into the warmer months.
Joan and Tim Hanson, visitors from Connecticut, said the new beach will absolutely add to the area around the park. The couple said they already enjoy the beach area at the Yacht Club.
“We’d definitely come by to the new beach,” Joan Hanson said.
Elaine Elliott said she would use the new beach. She was visiting the park with her grandson to look for small sea animals in the exposed oyster beds.
“The kids have always liked it here,” Elliott said.
The response hasn’t been all positive.
Jim Mitchell, a Cape Coral resident, said, “I’ve been fishing here for 11 years and I enjoy it the way it is now.” He said he doesn’t understand why the city is spending the money with the Yacht Club nearby.
“I can’t comprehend why taxpayers’ money is being spent for a beach,” Mitchell said. “With that 40 or 50 thousand, it will hire a firefighter or a police officer for a year.”
Showing posts with label Daily. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
Cape police officers help children with gifts
Cape Coral 10-year-old Arrissa Kubis was on a Christmas mission to find the perfect gift for her mother.
Equipped with an empty shopping cart and a Santa hat, she searched the jewelry section of the Walmart on Del Prado Boulevard looking for the perfect bauble.
Arrissa was one of the 35 children given opportunity to shop for free at the ninth annual Cape Coral Police Department’s Shop with a Cop event Thursday.
Arrissa’s eyes lit up when she found the perfect pair of earrings for her mom. She also picked up a sketchbook and a paint-by-numbers set to be placed under the tree for herself to open on Christmas day. She was accompanied by Cape Coral Police Chief Jay Murphy on her hour-long shopping spree.
“It was easy,” said Cape Coral Police Chief Jay Murphy, who was chaperoning her. “She knew what she wanted; she’s very pragmatic. I think we did it in record time.”
Each child roamed the aisles with an officer looking for toys and gifts, not just for themselves but also for their families. The department said 178 family members will be impacted by the gifts.
The morning started with officers picking up the children at their homes and taking them to breakfast at Perkins restaurant. After breakfast, the children received gift cards provided by Walmart and Capital Bank and were then free to roam the store with their officer. Murphy said most of the children don’t spend all the money on toys but instead focus on clothes, shoes or other necessities for their families.
“Quite often, most of these children stick to the basics,” he said.
For Arrissa, she said her favorite part of the shopping was buying for others, and she wasn’t alone. Eleven-year-old Payton Johns bought presents for her mother and grandmother.
“But first, I’m shopping for me,” she said, laughing, in the toy aisle.
Payton said the first thing she wanted to check off her list was Play-Doh.
The holiday shopping is as much fun for the officers as it is for the children.
“I try to do this every year I can,” said detective Alisha McDonald. “The kids are awesome, and I like being able to shop with them and help their families. I do it for them more than anything.”
Deputy Chief Bart Connelly shares the same sentiment.
“It’s a part of what we do as police officers. It’s giving,” Connelly said. “It’s helping others, who’re less fortunate, to have a good Christmas.”
After the shopping, the children went back to the police station to wrap their gifts and have a pizza party.
The children were scurrying around the wrapping room helping to pick out gift wrap for their family’s gifts. Murphy said what he likes most about the day is the transformation of the childrens’ demeanor.
“When they show up at eight in the morning you have to pry the words out of them. Now, they’re running around smiling,” he said.
Equipped with an empty shopping cart and a Santa hat, she searched the jewelry section of the Walmart on Del Prado Boulevard looking for the perfect bauble.
Arrissa was one of the 35 children given opportunity to shop for free at the ninth annual Cape Coral Police Department’s Shop with a Cop event Thursday.
Arrissa’s eyes lit up when she found the perfect pair of earrings for her mom. She also picked up a sketchbook and a paint-by-numbers set to be placed under the tree for herself to open on Christmas day. She was accompanied by Cape Coral Police Chief Jay Murphy on her hour-long shopping spree.
“It was easy,” said Cape Coral Police Chief Jay Murphy, who was chaperoning her. “She knew what she wanted; she’s very pragmatic. I think we did it in record time.”
Each child roamed the aisles with an officer looking for toys and gifts, not just for themselves but also for their families. The department said 178 family members will be impacted by the gifts.
The morning started with officers picking up the children at their homes and taking them to breakfast at Perkins restaurant. After breakfast, the children received gift cards provided by Walmart and Capital Bank and were then free to roam the store with their officer. Murphy said most of the children don’t spend all the money on toys but instead focus on clothes, shoes or other necessities for their families.
“Quite often, most of these children stick to the basics,” he said.
For Arrissa, she said her favorite part of the shopping was buying for others, and she wasn’t alone. Eleven-year-old Payton Johns bought presents for her mother and grandmother.
“But first, I’m shopping for me,” she said, laughing, in the toy aisle.
Payton said the first thing she wanted to check off her list was Play-Doh.
The holiday shopping is as much fun for the officers as it is for the children.
“I try to do this every year I can,” said detective Alisha McDonald. “The kids are awesome, and I like being able to shop with them and help their families. I do it for them more than anything.”
Deputy Chief Bart Connelly shares the same sentiment.
“It’s a part of what we do as police officers. It’s giving,” Connelly said. “It’s helping others, who’re less fortunate, to have a good Christmas.”
After the shopping, the children went back to the police station to wrap their gifts and have a pizza party.
The children were scurrying around the wrapping room helping to pick out gift wrap for their family’s gifts. Murphy said what he likes most about the day is the transformation of the childrens’ demeanor.
“When they show up at eight in the morning you have to pry the words out of them. Now, they’re running around smiling,” he said.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Cape Coral builders group chips in
The city of Cape Coral’s Special Populations program received an early holiday donation from the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association on Wednesday.
The association donated more than $2,000 worth of paper goods, baby wipes, cleaning supplies and arts and crafts supplies to the Special Populations program.
“They needed some assistance and I couldn’t think of a better organization that needed the help,” said Jeremy Johnson, CCCIA president.
Special Populations is a part of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and provides people with developmental disabilities a variety of programs aimed to help promote independence and life skills. The program has around 100 participants who attend five days a week. Program activities including art and music therapy, job skills training and social and life skills.
The donations were off Special Populations’ “needs list” that was circulated to CCCIA members through email and at meetings.
“Their members really rallied and came through with donations this year and last year,” said Sara Sansone, Special Populations supervisor. “It’s nice they continued this year as well. We’re pleased with our new partnership.”
This year, the association also had a holiday luncheon of turkey with all the fixings at the Special Populations center. Members interacted with program participants sharing laughs and conversation.
“It was their idea to spend lunch with us,” Sansone said. “(They’re) getting to know them and seeing some of their needs.”
Johnson said he first met with the Special Population participants at a city leadership program and spent time at the center. He said that experience helped him to decide to have a CCCIA donation drive to help Special Populations.
“We got to meet them and it was really enlightening,” Johnson said.
The association is looking to make this donation drive an annual event and they hope to work with the center on future construction projects.
“I’m looking forward to carrying out the tradition,” said incoming vice president Anthony Greco Jr. “To help them out and raise awareness to what the city is doing with this great program.”
The association donated more than $2,000 worth of paper goods, baby wipes, cleaning supplies and arts and crafts supplies to the Special Populations program.
“They needed some assistance and I couldn’t think of a better organization that needed the help,” said Jeremy Johnson, CCCIA president.
Special Populations is a part of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and provides people with developmental disabilities a variety of programs aimed to help promote independence and life skills. The program has around 100 participants who attend five days a week. Program activities including art and music therapy, job skills training and social and life skills.
The donations were off Special Populations’ “needs list” that was circulated to CCCIA members through email and at meetings.
“Their members really rallied and came through with donations this year and last year,” said Sara Sansone, Special Populations supervisor. “It’s nice they continued this year as well. We’re pleased with our new partnership.”
This year, the association also had a holiday luncheon of turkey with all the fixings at the Special Populations center. Members interacted with program participants sharing laughs and conversation.
“It was their idea to spend lunch with us,” Sansone said. “(They’re) getting to know them and seeing some of their needs.”
Johnson said he first met with the Special Population participants at a city leadership program and spent time at the center. He said that experience helped him to decide to have a CCCIA donation drive to help Special Populations.
“We got to meet them and it was really enlightening,” Johnson said.
The association is looking to make this donation drive an annual event and they hope to work with the center on future construction projects.
“I’m looking forward to carrying out the tradition,” said incoming vice president Anthony Greco Jr. “To help them out and raise awareness to what the city is doing with this great program.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)