City officially opens Festival Park

Ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday

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Cutting the ceremonial ribbon opening Festival Park to the public are, from left. Joe Petrella, Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Director; Gloria Tate, former Cape Coral City council member; Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter; Michael Ilczyszyn Cape Coral City Manager; and Janice Simmering, project manager of Burke Construction. MARK CLIFFORD

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The flag and entrance to Festival Park in Cape Coral. MARK CLIFFORD

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Festival Park in Cape Coral was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. MARK CLIFFORD

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Cape Coral Communications Manager Melissa Mickey gives the opening address at the opening ceremony. MARK CLIFFORD

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Joe Petrella, Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Director, tells everyone how Festival Park was a “team effort” and the project could not have happened without the hard work and dedication of those assigned to the project. MARK CLIFFORD

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Janice Simmering, project manager of Burke Construction, provides a few details on the evolution of Festival Park. MARK CLIFFORD

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Attendees gather under the tent and listen to a speaker during the ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at Festival Park. MARK CLIFFORD

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Special "thank yous" and photos of the contruction progress of Festival Park at the opening ceremony Friday. MARK CLIFFORD

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Another view of the main building at Festival Park. MARK CLIFFORD

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The newest multi-million dollar city facility, Festival Park, opened to the community last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is going to be a great place for recreation and connection, and we are proud to open Festival Park today,” Communications Manager Melissa Mickey said Friday morning.

The park features multi-use sports fields along with space for large events. It will also feature concessions and restroom building, as well as electrical infrastructure for a future amphitheater.

“This is a place where families can come together, where young athletes can develop their skills and learn teamwork, where neighbors can gather for events, and visitors can experience the energy and spirit of Cape Coral,” Mayor John Gunter said. “But more importantly, this will be a place where our community can come together and be able to engage with our neighbors and friends in our community.”

He said the city’s parks contribute to the quality of life, while supporting healthy lifestyles and bringing people together, which helps make Cape Coral a place where people are proud to call home.

“Festival Park represents a commitment to investing in our residents today and into the future while we bring a place we can call home,” Gunter said.

Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Director Joe Petrella called Festival Park a team effort that will benefit youth and adult sports programs for generations to come.

Burke Construction Project Manager Janice Simmering said the city had a game-changing vision for the space that is more than 80 acres.

“It warms our hearts, especially this weekend as we are preparing for this grand opening to see the Cape Coral Soccer Association has moved right in and these fields are getting used. So that is very exciting,” she said. “And we are also excited for upcoming future events in the fall such as Latino Fest and other big concert events that the amphitheater will be able to provide the much-needed space this community has needed.”  

On July 26, 2024, the city broke grounds on the park. At that time, the cost of the project improvements was estimated at $17.8 million. Land acquisition for the 517 parcels the city had compiled and purchased as of June 2022 was estimated to be approximately $29,900,000.

The park is a component of the $60 million General Obligation bond initiative voters approved in 2018 for the expansion of the city’s park system.