IS CRYSTAL LAKE THE BEST PLACE IN THE NORTHWEST FOR ONE OF OUR TWO NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS?

Proposal Question:

Do you want the City of Cape Coral to amend the Parks Proposal to change CRYSTAL LAKE PARK, which is located at Caloosa Parkway in the far northwest corner of Cape Coral, and spend the allocated $3.185 Million for developing NEIGHBORHOOD Parks in more suitable locations that are readily accessible and usable to northwest residents?

Background:

The City of Cape Coral is presently implementing a $60 Million Parks Plan which includes the construction of a $3.185 Million dollar park called "Crystal Lake Park" at what is known locally as Crystal Lake. The proposed park is located at the corner of Caloosa Parkway and NW 46th Place. The conceptual drawings call for a water-themed park with a beach, cable water ski, and scuba diving. City officials previously considered at least one true "neighborhood" park for the northwest which was to be centrally located and accessible to northwest residents with potential for wider uses and recreation opportunities but officials arbitrarily eliminated it as a proposed northwest park.

The City of Cape Coral has never asked northwest residents directly whether or not they would like their funds spent on more sited "neighborhood" parks (such as Joe Stonis Park), which would be more conveniently accessible and usable to residents. Original city proposal drawings showed Crystal Lake Park to be a "community" park as opposed to the current parks plan later labeling it as a "neighborhood" park despite the fact few live in proximity to it and its proposed uses such as scuba, cable water ski, and beach are not consistent with potential and more common uses to be expected by northwest residents in a typical "neighborhood" park which potentially would serve a wider group of users.