Lake Meade Park and Other Parks at a Standstill: The GO Bond Disaster the City Manager Can’t Escape!

How Michael Ilczyszyn (Now Making 350K a Year) is Mostly to Blame for the Parks GO Bond Problems

The $60 million Cape Coral Parks GO Bond was supposed to deliver long-promised amenities across the city, but instead it produced massive cost overruns, delays, and the loss of several planned parks. While multiple factors played a role, Michael Ilczyszyn, as a senior leader overseeing these projects, carries a significant share of the responsibility.

Under his management, the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center alone ballooned to nearly 150% over its original budget and fell years behind schedule. Those overruns ultimately drained funds meant for other parks and forced the city to scrap or postpone major projects promised to voters.

Even if external pressures and scope changes contributed, project oversight, cost control, and risk management fall under leadership. When one project consumes far more than planned and leaves the rest of the city shortchanged, accountability has to start at the top.

The result is simple: Cape Coral taxpayers voted for a city-wide parks initiative, but received one oversized facility at the expense of many others. That outcome reflects planning and oversight decisions that were, in large part, Ilczyszyn’s responsibility.

Another Blow for NE Cape Coral Residents Facing High Assessments

What was once promoted as a major recreational hub for Cape Coral’s northeast corridor remains multiple abandoned lots, as the long-promised Lake Meade Park project continues to sit stalled with no construction timeline and no secured funding.

The 25-acre site off Kismet Parkway East was originally included in the city’s voter-approved $60 million Parks GO Bond. Plans called for an amphitheater, walking paths, a small beach area, a dog park, boat ramps, playgrounds, pickleball and tennis courts, and a potential YMCA facility. Several homes were demolished and mature palm trees removed to prepare the land.

Today, the area shows no signs of progress.

Funding Diverted After Cost Overruns Elsewhere

According to city documents and public discussions, Lake Meade Park lost its funding after several other GO Bond projects, most notably the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, ran significantly over budget. Estimates for that project are reported to have climbed to roughly 148% above the original cost.

The original GO bond budget for Lake Meade was $5,495,502; the projection now is $14,237,006, and this does not include the YMCA facility.

To cover the overruns, the city shifted funds away from lower-priority projects, resulting in Lake Meade Park being removed from the GO Bond list despite earlier assurances that all included parks would be completed.

Discussions with YMCA of Southwest Florida briefly reignited hope for a partnership, and the city approved additional design work to make the site “pad-ready.” No construction date followed.

Residents Report Trash, Crime, and Neglect

With the site idle for more than three years, residents say conditions have deteriorated rapidly. Large dirt piles remain untouched, weeds have overtaken portions of the property, and areas identified for burrowing owls appear unmaintained.

Neighbors report ongoing issues including:

• Illegal dumping

• Speeding and late-night parking

• Street racing

• Suspected drug activity

Some residents say the site has become an eyesore in what was once a quiet residential area. They also express frustration that code enforcement responds regularly to minor residential violations but has not addressed the garbage accumulating on the city-controlled property. Police patrol the roadway front, but neighbors say little action is taken on the abandoned lots.

“It used to be a nice area to walk the dog,” one resident said. “Now it’s just a mess.”

No Timeline for Completion

City officials maintain that Lake Meade Park will eventually be built using alternative funding sources. However, there is currently no budget, no finalized plan, and no projected timeline for construction.

For many NE Cape Coral residents, the lack of progress has eroded confidence in the city’s handling of GO Bond commitments.

Until a clear path forward is announced, the Lake Meade Park site remains vacant, its once-ambitious design overshadowed by budget overruns, delays, and growing concerns from the community.

We are still waiting for the completion of Festival Park, Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, and Tropicana Park. Plus, the Yacht Club was also supposed to be within the GO Bond funds as well for $10,980,027. It is totally a CLUSTER FUCK! Thanks, Mikey!

All information has been thoroughly investigated and reported by the Take Out the Trash Committee of Cape Coral and/or its authorized volunteers!