Boating community wants faster access to open water

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PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Boating in Southwest Florida might become a little easier for some folks.

A growing boat community has a plan to give more people easier access to open water, however, not everyone is on board.

A local non-profit organization wants to make Punta Gorda Isles a boater’s paradise.

Their plan is to connect the city canals to Alligator Creek. This will give people fast access to Charlotte Harbor.

“Some parts of the bird section off of Aqui Esta could be an hour for them to get out,” said William Stame, who helped raise funds for waterway expansion.

The new waterway will cut most people’s travel time in half. The proposed waterway will be 400 feet long by 50 feet wide.

Sandi Peirce who lives along one of the city’s canals says, “I think it’s a marvelous idea, I think it’ll shorten the time to get out, and even though we don’t have a boat, we do go with our neighbors sometimes.”

The problem is not everyone is seeing eye to eye. Stame tells WINK News there have been negative comments about the environment and the cost.

Right now the project comes in at $1.5 million. Some people say the investment will be worth it in the long run.

‘We are going to have a quicker access and I think we’re going to have more people move to Punta Gorda because of it,” explained Stame.

A local realtor says anytime you get closer to open water, it will increase the value of their homes.

The future of this canal is now in the city’s hands, they are taking a look at the plans and will decide what the next step is.

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