‘Save Our Recreation’ group sets fundraiser
A weekend event will help raise funds in the fight to prevent the former Cape Coral Golf Club from being developed, preserving it instead as a park and recreation area.
The Save Our Recreation Fundraiser will take place on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, located in Cape Harbour. It is being hosted by Save Our Recreation, a non-profit established by local residents and homeowners in an attempt to preserve the land for public use.
Barth Wolf, president of Save Our Recreation, explained that the organization will participate in the hearings and processes related to the property, which will involve hiring consultants and lawyers.
If the site plans change, however, the funds could be used for a different reason.
“The excess funds could be used for helping to do something with the property,” he said.
At Monday’s Cape Coral City Council meeting, City Manager John Szerlag said he has ordered an appraisal to determine whether it would be feasible to propose some sort of land swap for the 175-acre site off Palm Tree Boulevard, where a national home builder proposes to construct 500 residences.
Szerlag added that he has had conversations with D.R. Horton executive Jonathon M. Pentecost.
The 320-acre site is in the north Cape.
Wolf noted that the fundraiser also serves to raise public awareness of what is going on.
“It gives us a chance to talk to more people,” he said.
The event will feature a silent auction, basket raffles and a 50/50 drawing.
Mary Neilson, treasurer for Save Our Recreation, said some of the auction items include a stay at the Port of the Islands Resort in the Everglades, a Pandora bracelet from Diamonds by Dianne, $500 worth of estate planning services from Neilson Law and a speciality experience provided by Bonefish Grill.
“They’re giving an eight-person culinary experience worth $800,” she said.
There will also be gas cards, massages, salon services, restaurant gift certificates and more.
“There’s something for everybody,” Neilson said. “As low as $25.”
For the raffles, people can buy tickets and put them in baskets to win various items.
“It’s free,” she said. “The public is welcome – don’t have to buy a thing.”
Entertainment will be provided by the Memory Makers.
“Big band type of stuff,” Wolf said. “Jazz, swing.”
A discounted appetizer and drink menu will also be available.
Organizers hope to raise as much money as possible.
“There’s no goal at all,” Wolf said.
Information and literature on the old Cape Coral Golf Club property will be on hand.
“We’ll obviously be talking a little bit about the golf course,” he said.
Group volunteers will also be on site to answer any questions.
“We’ll have people signing our petition,” Wolf said.
In an effort to fulfill its mission, Save Our Recreation recently launched a petition drive to gather as many signatures as possible in support of its stance against D.R. Horton’s plans for the property.
“It’s a petition to oppose the change of the future land use of the property,” he said.
Group members have been attending the Cape Coral Farmers Market and Sunset Celebration at the Cape Coral Yacht Club to collect signatures, as well as have reached out to other organizations.
Information will also be available on how one can get involved or volunteer.
Located along Palm Tree Boulevard, the former Golf Club was shut down more than 10 years ago by Florida Gulf Venture because it was losing money. In 2009, the company filed a lawsuit against the city after it refused to approve a land use change for the property from parks and recreation to mixed use.
Four years later, a circuit court judge ruled in favor of the city, upholding the denial.
About a year ago, Florida Gulf Venture entered into a sales contract with D.R. Horton for the abandoned property. Florida Gulf Venture has since applied for another land use change to single-family residential. The contract is contingent on the Cape approving the new land use change.
In the meantime, D.R. Horton had submitted plans to develop an estimated 500 homes as part of a development called “The Palms” on the 177-acre parcel. It had originally submitted plans to build 600 residences on the property, including apartments, multi-story condos and commercial components.
As of Wednesday, no public hearings had been set yet for either item.
For more information about Save Our Recreation or to sign the group’s petition, visit online at: www.saveourrecreation.us/. People can donate online, view an upcoming calendar and more.
Fathoms Restaurant & Bar is at 5785 Cape Harbour Drive.