New freshwater canal access points are open in Cape Coral, here's what we know

Luis Zambrano, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·2 min read

Cape Coral, Florida’s third-largest city by land mass with nearly 400 miles of canals, adds five new freshwater canal access points for boat lovers.

Interim Cape Coral City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said the access points will not only provide an overall benefit to surrounding communities that want to use it recreationally and in cases of emergency, but will allow the city to do much-needed maintenance.

Cape Coral has 34 access points. Residents are required to have a $75 plus tax annual permit for boat parking.

Councilmember Tom Hayden, who pushed for the development, said the access points are meant to fill a need.

"We had the community comment on the fact that after the hurricane, they would have liked to see more freshwater canals open up with ramps so that they could get boats in and out, even service the boats after a storm, and just have other access points throughout the city," Hayden said.

Here's what we know:

Where are the new access points?

Map of canal access points available throughout the city.
Map of canal access points available throughout the city.

Each area contains a driveway and a ramp near a canal, which allows easy boat launch access, a small parking area of grass that is first come first serve, surrounding plants, and a trashcan.

They will be designated public parks, and signage and picnic tables will be installed to reflect that.

The new access points can be found in central Cape Coral:

  • 802 SW 7th Terrace

  • 1208 Academy Blvd

  • 1815 Surfside Blvd.

  • 845 Gleason Parkway

  • 720 SW 31st Terrace

Community needs and uses

Ilczyszyn said several residents had complained that they bought homes in Central Cape Coral without any readily available access to the water.

He also said points give public work crews needed access for canal maintenance and water quality management.

"Now we have the ability for our residents to launch boats, if they need maintenance, or if they want to get them out of the water for any type of incoming weather," Ilczyszyn said. "And at the same time, if there's any buildup of algae or buildup of vegetation, we can work with the Hyacinth Control District to do some harvesting or we can go in there and spray."

How were these points funded?

Cape Coral City Council approved the funds for these new freshwater canal access points in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

The total cost was $100,000 for the five ramps, and the funds were taken from the stormwater funds.

Are more freshwater launches coming?

Ilczyszyn said more ramps will come if or when the city needs to replace a freshwater canal access point.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: New freshwater canal access points open in Cape Coral