Mayor's Message
Happy holidays to our residents and visitors, and welcome back to our part-time residents.
To kick off the holiday season, everyone is invited to join us in front of City Hall tonight (Thursday, November 30) at 6:00 p.m. for our Annual Holiday Tree & Menorah Lighting event. The City’s Christmas tree is over 50 feet tall this year!
As we embark on another holiday season, it’s a good time to reflect on the City’s accomplishments and how far we’ve come over the past year. The 2023 hurricane season ended without any major storms hitting Cape Coral, allowing our community to continue recovering from Hurricane Ian. The reopening of the Yacht Club Beach is one small indicator of the progress being made throughout the city. Other accomplishments this year include the groundbreaking of the new police and fire training facilities.
This month, we will hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies for two new parks funded by the 2018 Parks GO Bond. Sands Park is a new neighborhood park with a covered playground, picnic shelters, tennis/pickleball courts, and a putting green. Joe Coviello Park will be our newest environmental park dedicated to the late Mayor for his service to the city. Joe Coviello Park features walking paths and outdoor classrooms. We appreciate the community’s enthusiasm and support for the new park projects in our city. While there have been some delays in the construction process, attributed in part to unforeseen circumstances, such as Ian and regulatory permitting delays, parks play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for our residents. Parks provide recreational spaces for families, promote community engagement, and contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal of our city.
At our December 13 meeting, the City Council will appoint a representative to fill the vacant District 4 seat. The City Council plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our community. Choosing a representative who understands the unique needs of our city is crucial to maintaining a strong and vibrant community.
Also happening later this month, we welcome the return of the Holiday Boat-a-Long at Four Freedoms Park on December 16 and begin a new holiday tradition on December 31 at the City’s Inaugural New Year’s Eve Celebration on SE 47th Terrace in the South Cape. I encourage everyone to join the fun and help us ring in the New Year.
As we head into 2024, the City Council remains committed to our state and federal legislative priorities, including protecting local decision-making authority, environmental stewardship, improving water quality, infrastructure/transportation investment and planning, and hurricane recovery and preparedness.
From our family to yours, I offer you all my warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year.