DeLand, FL- When Volusia County Council meets Thursday the panel will take another look at the plan for improvements to the Smyrna Dunes Park boardwalk and a new Smyrna Dunes fishing pier. The total cost of both projects was originally put at about $3.7 million dollars in 2015. Much of the cost will come from funds from the Ponce Inlet Port Authority and from grants. The biggest portion, $2.7 million, is coming from the PIPA. The agenda item for the VCC says an engineering estimate of the probable project cost was requested in 2016 and increased the cost of the project to $5.4 million due to increasing construction costs. The agenda item says additional funding of $1.7 million is allocated from the Ponce Inlet District reserves and beach access fees.
The fishing pier project calls for a new 350-foot-long structure including two shade structures. Those shade structures were requested by council during a meeting in December.
The existing wooden boardwalk dates to 1984. Planned improvements include replacing the wooden boardwalk with a composite structure, widening the boardwalk from the current six-feet to eight-feet wide, and adding ADA access to the beach and fishing pier. Plans are to allow casual bicycle use on that widened walkway.
County council meets Thursday morning in DeLand at 9AM. Photos credit Volusia County Government.
