I am writing to share the excitement over a beautiful new addition to Sirenia Vista Park in southwest Cape Coral near the gateway to Matlacha. Sirenia Vista — meaning “manatee viewing” — has become a treasured natural space. This week, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and the city of Cape Coral unveiled an adorable new manatee sculpture dedicated to the residents and visitors of our city.
CCFW thanks City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn, Parks & Recreation Director Joe Petrella, and Parks Supervisor Lucille Vaillancourt-Kreider for helping make this gift possible. We also extend gratitude to the 2018 Manateum Gala Committee — Gigi Yarusso, Barbara Jamison, Eric Nikolai, and Maija Gadient — whose efforts raised over $15,000 and helped shape the park.
Maija Gadient, a longtime resident, deserves special recognition. In the early 2000s she advocated for converting what was then a neglected parcel into a park after witnessing manatees regularly in the canal. With support from city officials, including then-parks director Steve Pohlman, the city purchased the land and created Sirenia Vista. The name was her idea, perfectly reflecting the area’s wildlife…