After 1½ years of construction, Cape Coral’s Jaycee Park reopens this month with a new riverfront boardwalk, bandshell, 5,000-square-foot splash pad and more changes.
The City of Cape Coral announced the news April 13. The park will reopen to the public Thursday, April 30, followed by a ribbon cutting May 8.
“Jaycee Park has undergone a major transformation into a more accessible, family-friendly waterfront destination,” the news release said, adding that the renovation addresses “issues like aging facilities, invasive trees, and parking and pedestrian challenges.”
The 11.8-acre park — at 4215 SE 20th Place — has been closed to the public since October 2024 for the controversial redesign (see below). The project cost more than $12 million.
After the park reopens, the city plans to start holding various entertainment events there, Parks and Recreation Director Joe Petrella told The News-Press/Naples Daily News in an April 8 news article.
Changes to Jaycee Park: Boardwalk, splash bad, food trucks and more
An artist’s rendering of the redesigned Jaycee Park in Cape Coral
According to the city, the “newly improved” park features:
A lighted riverfront boardwalk and overlook,
A 5,000-square-foot splash pad,
A bandshell for performances,
Upgraded pathways with cooling misters,
A large inclusive playground,
Cornhole, pool and shuffleboard tables,
and, coming soon, a dedicated food truck court offering food and beverages.
The release doesn’t mention the park’s planned bistro, but the bistro building has been a visible part of the construction and a February 2026 update from the city reported that bistro’s roof and stucco have been completed. The city’s Office of Communications didn’t immediately respond to a request for more details.
No reservations are required to attend the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting on Friday, May 8, said the news release. The event is open to the public.
How did the Jaycee Park project begin, and why has it been so controversial?
The park’s redesign traces back to a city-issued request for proposals in 2022, which sought to significantly reimagine Jaycee Park, one of Cape Coral’s oldest waterfront parks.
For decades, the park functioned as a quiet neighborhood space with open lawns, a playground, picnic areas, walking paths and a gazebo. The approved plan added new amenities, including boat slips, a splash pad, a food truck court and a bandshell.
Critics objected to what they described as the commercialization of the park, increased traffic and noise and the long-term debt used to finance the project. During city meetings in 2023, residents argued that amenities such as the bandshell, food truck court and docks would erode the park’s character and disrupt the surrounding neighborhood.
A group of residents organized under the Cape Coral Preservation PAC attempted to force a public referendum on the project. The group collected more than 7,700 signatures but fell short of the roughly 22,000 needed to place the measure on the ballot, clearing the way for construction to continue.
Supporters, including several council members, defended the changes as necessary upgrades to aging infrastructure and to make better use of the park’s riverfront location. The council hosted meetings to get community feedback on the project.
This aerial view of Jaycee Park in Cape Coral was captured in the afternoon of Nov. 12, 2025. The park is currently closed for renovations, with a projected completion date of April 2026. Recent progress includes framing for the overlook boardwalk, pouring the bistro building’s foundation, and filling concrete blocks for the bandshell and restrooms. Upcoming work includes the construction of the south weir, underground plumbing, and playground installation.
Charles Runnells covers arts and entertainment for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@usatodayco.com. Follow or message him on Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells).
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral’s Jaycee Park set to reopen with bandshell, boardwalk, more