[Edit: Please do not feel like you need to donate on this page. The donations on here go to the site, not the project.]

What if Cape Coral had a botanical garden?

I was born and raised in Cape Coral, and I care deeply about the future of this city. As a local horticulture professional, Realtor, Master Gardener Volunteer, FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional, GI-BMP certified instructor, and current ISA Arborist certification student, I see the old golf course as one of Cape Coral’s rarest opportunities.

The city already owns the land. It has space, ponds, mature trees, stormwater relevance, and a central location. It should not become just another basic park.

The structure could be simple:

The city builds and maintains the core public infrastructure: paths, parking, bathrooms, drainage, utilities, safety, access, and basic park operations.

A nonprofit, possibly Friends of the Cape Coral Botanical Garden, could raise private money, pursue grants, manage volunteers, fund gardens, support educational programming, build partnerships, and help grow the vision over time without placing the full burden on taxpayers.

This does not need to start as a massive, expensive project. It could be phased in: walking gardens, native plantings, shade gardens, butterfly gardens, demonstration yards, event lawn, classroom space, plant sales, memberships, sponsorships, weddings, school programs, and partnerships.

Cape Coral is a city built around canals, runoff, water quality, landscaping, and coastal resilience. A botanical garden would give residents a living classroom and a public space that teaches people how to landscape better, conserve water, support wildlife, and create yards that actually work in this climate.

It would also give Cape Coral something it does not currently have: a true cultural and ecological destination.

This is not just about beautification. It is about education, tourism, property values, environmental responsibility, and city identity.

We urge city officials to seriously consider turning the old golf course into a Cape Coral Botanical Garden, supported by city infrastructure and strengthened by a nonprofit fundraising and volunteer model.

Sign this petition to show that Cape Coral residents support a smarter, greener, more useful future for this land.