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Cape Coral council rejects immediate removal of concession building at JC Park; residents demand further review
Summary
Councilmembers debated changes to JC Park’s construction and concessionaire plans after public concerns about grading, drainage and the failed REEF partnership. A motion to remove the concession building and reposition recreation features failed 1–7.
Councilmember Lehman moved to strip the planned concession building from the JC Park construction plan and relocate the volleyball courts and lawn‑game areas, arguing the current layout creates a safety hazard for the playground and that residents have repeatedly objected to the park’s design.
Councilmember Lehman made the motion to “get rid of the building completely from the concessionaire, not have a concessionaire at all at JC Park, move the volleyball court and the lawn games over to where that building was,” and Councilmember Lastra seconded the motion for discussion.
Nut graf: The City Council spent a large portion of its April 2 meeting debating whether to alter the construction contract for JC Park after the city terminated the P3 concession agreement with the REEF and questioned provisions of the Fortress Secured LLC construction contract. Supporters of redesign argued for quicker public access and safety changes; opponents warned that changing the plans now would trigger significant costs and delays.
Most councilmembers said altering the construction contract at this stage would be expensive and legally risky. The city…
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