Cape Coral City Council approved the paperwork to allow for boardwalks at Yellow Fever Creek Preserve.<\/p>\n
Wednesday\u2019s action was the second amendment for Ordinance 51-26, between the city and the South Florida Water Management District, whose permission is needed for the \u201cpassive recreation\u201d project.<\/p>\n
Dawn Andrews, with the city\u2019s Public Works Real Estate Division, said the necessary permit would allow for construction of three boardwalks and associated viewing platforms.<\/p>\n
The three boardwalks total 2,205 of linear feet, each with 120-square-foot platform.<\/p>\n
Since the existing access points, as well as the trail network did not fully support public access or environmental education, the Parks and Recreation Department developed plans for access.<\/p>\n
The boardwalks will be funded by a Tourist Development Council grant.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Bill Steinke recognized the support the council received during the meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the county and TDC to provide the funding for the boardwalks to go in that spot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The city granted the South Florida Water Management District, in 1997, a 23.5-acre, perpetual conservation easement within the Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, as part of the mitigation required to construct the North Del Prado Boulevard Extension. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was added a third-party beneficiary in 2021.<\/p>\n
The 198 acres include pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, cypress forests, and constructed freshwater features. There are campsites, an environmental education center, public parking, disc golf, bird-watching area, fishing opportunities and an expanded network of hiking trails planned.<\/p>\n
The 200-acre preserve is at 3115 Del Prado Blvd. and will open to the public when work is complete.<\/p>\n
The county owns and manages an adjacent parcel with the total preserve encompassing about 525 acres.<\/p>\n