{"id":49440,"date":"2025-11-17T05:46:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T05:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/49440\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T05:46:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T05:46:08","slug":"hundreds-pack-meeting-on-old-golf-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/49440\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds pack meeting on Old Golf Course"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Cape Coral resident Rich Kampf offers his point of view during an input meeting on the Old Golf Course on Thursday at the Public Works Building. CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Director Joe Petrella speaks during a citizens input meeting on the Old Golf Course on Thursday at the Public Works Building. CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra speaks to the crowd during a residents input meeting on the Old Golf Course on Thursday at the Public Works Building. CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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The crowd listens during a residents input meeting on the Old Golf Course on Thursday at the Public Works Building. CHUCK BALLARO<\/p>\n

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When Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Director Joe Petrella held a meeting on the city\u2019s parks master plan three months ago, seven people showed up.<\/p>\n

Thursday, when Petrella asked for public input on what to do with the Old Golf Course, the meeting room at the Public Works building was so crowded he had to hold a second gathering.<\/p>\n

The city, looking to transform the Old Golf Course site \u2013 dormant for nearly 20 years \u2013 into a vibrant park to serve residents, gave those gathered a lesson on the site\u2019s history and its current conditions and asked them how they think the land should be changed and what features and activities they are looking for. Residents can also give input online.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the people we want to hear from. You\u2019re the neighbors. For the residents nearby and the Friends of Wildlife, we want to get this right and work with all of you to get it right,\u201d Petrella said.<\/p>\n

Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said she has been listening to residents\u2019 concerns about the site, especially the falling trees and the presence of coyotes. She said sh has also visited the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw two coyotes roaming around. Florida Fish & Wildlife will not do anything about (them). They pick up alligators because they have a contract. Coyotes don\u2019t work that way,\u201d Nelson-Lastra said. \u201cWe want to hear from you. We want citizens\u2019 input because this is your park, our park.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the things surveyed residents want are trails, conservation areas, fishing piers, indoor fitness center and an outdoor amphitheater.<\/p>\n

But there are other ideas. A couple residents at the meeting said they wanted to have the site turned back into a golf course, as it had been a location for major tournaments in the past.<\/p>\n

Rick Kampf told Petrella he didn\u2019t want pickleball courts because of the noise they can create with paddles hitting hard plastic balls, as well as the fact there are now courts at Lake Kennedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven pickleball players say the courts should not be near a residential neighborhood,\u201d Kampf said. \u201cI want green space, swings, see-saws, walking trails and places where everyone can picnic and have a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonita Olesen called the meeting fantastic and thought Petrella seems to know what he\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s handling this situation correctly. We are not going to end up with another Jaycee Park,\u201d Olesen said. \u201cI want to see green space where people can enjoy it. We don\u2019t need any more indoor fitness centers or pickleball courts. You can ride a bike or walk your pets there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Petrella said he was very pleased with how the evening went but regretted not being able to get a bigger venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to respect . . . and understand that (residents are) here because they care,\u201d Petrella said. \u201cWe\u2019re really happy to have this kind of input. It will help us develop this property to the best of our ability.\u201d<\/p>\n

A preliminary master plan is set for mid-December, with a second community meeting to be held early in 2026, when Parks and Recreation personnel will present two conceptual master plans open for comment. A final plan will be presented in mid-February.<\/p>\n


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