>> THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PARK IN CAPE CORAL IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT. SOME PEOPLE ARE CRITICIZING THE NEW LANDSCAPING PLAN FOR JAYCEE PARK. THE CITY TORE OUT THE INVASIVE TREES AT THE PARK. THIS IS WHAT THE PARK LOOK LIKE BEFORE THE RENOVATIONS. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BUT THOSE TREES ARE GONE. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER KENDALL BRET IS LIVE SHOWING YOU THE RENOVATIONS THAT SOME PEOPLE CALL UNNECESSARY. >> NEIGHBORS WERE MAINLY WATCHING THE CHANGES HERE AT JAYCEE PARK THROUGH THESE DEFENSE OPENINGS. BUT NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, ADDITIONS ARE RISING ABOVE. AND WHILE THERE ARE SOME MIXED FEELINGS, MANY NEIGHBORS SAY STEP TOWARD COMPLETION. >> WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IS THE PART WANT, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION. DOES ANYBODY LIKE IT? NO, BUT YOU GOT YOU GOT TO HAVE YOU GOT IT? >> NO PAIN, NO GAIN. >> THAT’S THE SOUND OF PROGRESS. ACCORDING TO NEIGHBOR STEVE WESTMAN, HE AND HIS NEIGHBORS HAVE NOTICED THE PROGRESS CREWS ARE MAKING. THEY COMPLETED THE BATHROOMS. SOME OF THE BOARD LOCKS CONCRETE WALKWAYS. AND EVEN THIS LANDSCAPING, THERE’S MORE TREES NOW THAN THERE WERE BEFORE. >> THEY RAISE IT UP. SO IT PROTECTS THE COAST BETTER. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEW. >> THE LIGHTING IS AND THEN YOU CAN’T DO THAT. I WANT TO BE GOOD. DOES IT PAIN FOR FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS? WAS IT NECESSARY? WE VERY WELL WITHOUT JEFF SWARTZ IS ONE OF MANY WHO ARE CRITICAL OF THE PROJECT. >> HE SAYS HE HOPES A NEW TREES CAN HOLD UP LIKE THE OLD ONCE DID. I WRITE JUST BY SCHOOL? 42 LAST DAY. THE WIND COMING DOWN THIS ROAD IS. >> 2 OR 3 TIMES STRONGER THAN IT EVER WAS. WHEN THE STREETS ARE HERE. SO THERE’S GOING TO BE AN IMPACT AND IMPACT BE FELT IN THE NEXT BIG STORM. SO, YEAH, THEY RAISED TO 3 FEET BUT WHAT CAN DO AND YOU 5 PICKS SEARCH. BUT NEIGHBORS LIKE WISSMAN SAY THEIR STREET WILL ONLY BENEFIT FROM THE CHANGES. SO NOW EVERYTHING IS NEW. IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO MATURE. ABSOLUTELY. >> YOU GOT TO HAVE PATIENTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T LIKE CHANGE. I DO LIKE CHANGE. >> NEXT ON THE CITY’S LIST AS HAD HANDRAILS LIGHTING AS WELL AS WORK ON SOME UNDERGROUND PLUMBING. THEY’RE EXPECTING THIS PROJECT TO WRAP
Progress made in Cape Coral’s Jaycee Park project as construction continues
Updated: 8:27 PM EST Dec 19, 2025
Residents of Cape Coral are witnessing significant progress in the Jaycee Park project, marked by new green additions and infrastructure improvements, as the city works toward completion in five months.”What we’re looking forward to is the park,” said neighbor Steve Wissman. “Construction — does anybody like it? No, but you got, you got to have, you got to. No pain, no gain.”The sound of construction is seen as a sign of progress by Wissman and his neighbors, who have noticed the completion of bathrooms, some boardwalks, concrete walkways and landscaping. It’s all part of a more than $12 million plan that has been a topic of debate between neighbors since 2023. “There are more trees now than there were before they raised it up, so it protects the coast better,” said Ken Nies. “The infrastructure is new. The lighting is new. I mean, you can’t beat it.”However, not everyone is convinced of the project’s necessity. Jeff Schwartz, a resident critical of the project, expressed his concerns. “I want it to be good because I’m going to be paying for it for the next 20 years,” Schwartz said. “But, was it necessary? We could very well go without it.”Schwartz said while he hopes the park is successful, he worries about the impacts of removing the old trees. “I ride this bicycle 40 or 50 miles a day. The wind coming down this road is two or three times stronger than it ever was the most recent year, so there’s going to be an impact,” Schwartz said. “They raised it 3 feet, but it was we can do when you have a 5-foot storm surge.”Despite the concerns, Wissman remains optimistic about the changes, stating, “Now, everything is new. Is it going to take time to mature? Absolutely, but you got to have patience,” Wissman said. “A lot of people don’t like change. I do like change.”Next, the city is working on adding lights, handrails, more boardwalks and underground plumbing, with the project expected to be completed by April 2026.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.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Residents of Cape Coral are witnessing significant progress in the Jaycee Park project, marked by new green additions and infrastructure improvements, as the city works toward completion in five months.
“What we’re looking forward to is the park,” said neighbor Steve Wissman. “Construction — does anybody like it? No, but you got, you got to have, you got to. No pain, no gain.”
The sound of construction is seen as a sign of progress by Wissman and his neighbors, who have noticed the completion of bathrooms, some boardwalks, concrete walkways and landscaping. It’s all part of a more than $12 million plan that has been a topic of debate between neighbors since 2023.
“There are more trees now than there were before they raised it up, so it protects the coast better,” said Ken Nies. “The infrastructure is new. The lighting is new. I mean, you can’t beat it.”
However, not everyone is convinced of the project’s necessity. Jeff Schwartz, a resident critical of the project, expressed his concerns.
“I want it to be good because I’m going to be paying for it for the next 20 years,” Schwartz said. “But, was it necessary? We could very well go without it.”
Schwartz said while he hopes the park is successful, he worries about the impacts of removing the old trees.
“I ride this bicycle 40 or 50 miles a day. The wind coming down this road is two or three times stronger than it ever was the most recent year, so there’s going to be an impact,” Schwartz said. “They raised it 3 feet, but it was we can do when you have a 5-foot storm surge.”
Despite the concerns, Wissman remains optimistic about the changes, stating, “Now, everything is new. Is it going to take time to mature? Absolutely, but you got to have patience,” Wissman said. “A lot of people don’t like change. I do like change.”
Next, the city is working on adding lights, handrails, more boardwalks and underground plumbing, with the project expected to be completed by April 2026.
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.