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Parks & Recreation

Yacht Club Community Park

Public Meetings to share details about the redesign of the Yacht Club will be held at Mercola Market (125 SW 3rd Pl) on the following dates and times:

     * Tuesday, April 2, 2024 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.
     * Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Each public meeting will include a presentation and a breakout to stations for individual Q&A. No RSVP is required to attend.


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March 13, 2024 - Update
(Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting) 
The project design firm presented updates to the Yacht Club Master Plan based on feedback from the City Council in January.  After the presentation, most of the Council selected Option 1 as their preference for the overall design. 

Yacht Club Master Plan Update - 3.13.24



February 28, 2024 - Update
(Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting) 
Deconstruction and demolition of the original Yacht Club buildings and pool are expected to begin in late March or April and be complete by late May. 

Yacht Club - 2.28.24

January 17, 2024 - Update 
(Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting) 
The project design firm presented a revised site plan based on the feedback from the City Council in November.  After the presentation, the Council directed staff to move forward with the Yacht Club's Final Site Plan, including adding a fourth floor to the parking garage.
Yacht Club Update - front cover


November 11, 2023 - The Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The boat ramps remain closed. 

Note: Demolition of the main ballroom building, the Tony Rotino Center, tennis courts, pool, and Harbormaster's building is expected to begin in January or February 2024. The city will leave up the fence around the Yacht Club's facilities and have the contractors staged behind them and away from the beach and its parking. 

November 8, 2023 - Update (Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting) 
Two updated park designs were presented to the City Council based on feedback provided in January. During this discussion, most Council members preferred to start with Concept #1 with a resort-style pool as the basis for design. They also liked some elements of Concept #2, including a curved drive at the entrance, a longer second fishing pier, restrooms on the southside being more centrally located, and a fountain or other water feature added by the park entrance. The design firm (Kimley Horn) will make revisions and provide refined concept drawings in January. Click here to view the meeting video. (Yacht Club discussion begins at 1:19:55)
Yacht Club Master Plan Discussion - image - 11.8.23


October 31, 2003 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the US Army Corps of Engineers have provided the City of Cape Coral with the regulatory permits required to reopen the Yacht Club Beach on Nov. 10. In advance of the opening on Thursday, Nov. 9, Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, District 1 Councilmember Bill Steinke, and City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn will discuss the reopening of the Yacht Club Community Park Beach area with the media, followed by a brief Q&A. 


October 25, 2023 - Update
(Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting)
Yacht Club - 10.25.23

September 20, 2023 -
Yacht Club Beach Opening Update
  • The existing bathrooms and two pavilions have been completely removed from the beach.
  • Public Works and Parks has completed the Landside cleanup and raking of the beach using mechanical means.
  • Public Works and Parks has completed the Waterside cleanup using manual means and dive teams. 
  • The Florida DEP Emergency Field Authorization was approved for sand renourishment of the City beach property (Landside).
  • The Federal permitting through the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is pending (Landside). (Critical path for the schedule)  
  • Parks will purchase and apply sand to the beach per the permits within one month of receiving the Landside permit.
  • Parks has a contract with a company that rents/leases temporary restrooms, which includes cleaning and maintenance. The restroom will be delivered and connected in the same time frame as the sand renourishment.
  • Parks, Public Works, and Risk are coordinating the installation of signage for public use of the beach when it opens.
  • After completion of Tasks #5, #6, #7, and #8, the temporary perimeter fence at the beach will be removed, and the beach can open.  
  • The FLDEP permitting and USACE permitting for the Waterside sand renourishment is ongoing. The beach can open without the Waterside sand renourishment.

September 13, 2023 - (Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting)
Yacht Club Ballroom Update - Cover
Click to see the Yacht Club Ballroom Reconstruction Update


July 19, 2023 - Update
 (Shared during Committee of the Whole Meeting)
          Yacht Club - 7.19.23

July 13, 2023 - Demolition of structures remaining on the beach begins, including the restrooms and playground. 

July 10, 2023 - The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill reopened.

June 14, 2023 - Council Approves Resolution 152-23 for Additional Yacht Club Design Services
Resolution 152-23 approved Amendment 2 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to provide additional design phase services at the Yacht Club. This includes design for deconstructive preservation of the buildings and fuel tank replacement design.

June 7, 2023 - City Council Meeting Update:
The Boathouse Restaurant is anticipated to reopen mid-July. Public Works is clearing the parking lot of debris, and the parking lot lights are being repaired. Temporary fencing and signs for closed amenities are in place, with adjustments pending for the Boathouse opening.

The public boat ramp remains closed to the community. FDEM and FWC are using the boat ramp for derelict vessel removal. Lee County is using the boat ramp to repair waterway navigation aids. These agencies will use the public boat ramp through Aug. 31, 2023. 

The Yacht Club Beach remains closed as the city prepares the beach for opening, which requires raking the landside beach, raking the waterside beach, and refurbishing the beach with new sand. State and/or Federal Permits are required to perform the beach work.

The existing restrooms, two pavilions, and the playground will be removed. The city plans to have portable toilets on site for the beach opening, which is anticipated for Aug. 31, 2023, pending approval of the permits for beach cleanup and all other tasks are completed.

The Marina and all other Yacht Club Community Park amenities are closed. If Council approves it at the June 14 Council Meeting, the city plans to proceed with plans to deconstruct the Yacht Club Ball Room building while saving elements for reuse in the new facilities. The deconstruction work is anticipated to start in October. 

The future waterside design and construction, including seawalls, a boat ramp, and the marina, is contingent on ACOE and DEP permits. If Council approves it at the June 14 Council Meeting, the city will move forward with the Landside Master Plan, which Kimley Horn will complete.

PH1_YACHT_CLUB_REOPENING_20230629

May 31, 2023 - Committee of the Whole Meeting Notes/Discussions:
* Yacht Club Update - 5.31.23  
* FEMA 50% Rule Presentation
* Substantial Improvement / Substantial Damage FEMA Regulations