Business View Civil Municipal - July 2023

85 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7 CAPE CORAL , FLORIDA to achieve the infrastructure needed in anticipation of higher densities coming to the area,” Zambaro summarizes. Focusing on green spaces for future ‘growth’ It is not only the blue of the canal that may catch your eye, but it is also the green of the many lush outdoor spaces dotted throughout Cape Coral that will leave a lasting impression, and it is Omar Leon’s job as the City Arborist to ensure that green remains the primary color associated with this thriving city. “I am looking at the city’s tree canopy as a vital component of the city’s green infrastructure,” Leon states. “We are looking at expanding tree canopy coverage city-wide, and by doing so, we are creating resilient, sustainable urban forests for future generations to enjoy.” By focusing on increasing the sheer number of trees within the vital downtown core, the city is growing dramatically not only the environmental benefit of the tree canopy city-wide, but also, in the process, is creating walkable spaces and livable spaces that residents can enjoy. “We have established a lot of reforestation efforts, and we are going to continue to move forward with our aggressive reforestation efforts by creating a city-wide urban forest master plan.” From green initiatives to commercial initiatives Residential growth has been on Cape Coral’s radar for a number of years now with no signs of slowing down anytime soon; however, the city is adamant that the commercial and retail growth must play catch up in order to be in sync with the