Posted: May 13, 2008
Renovations on the north end of the St. Lucie River Boardwalk have begun, and when complete in the fall, the attraction will offer nature lovers more than 800 feet of new walking paths along the river and through the wooded mangroves.
After more than 20 years, three hurricanes and a lot of use, the old boardwalk was weakening and becoming unsafe. The south end was built five years ago.
The boardwalk stretches from Tom Hooper Park (behind the Walgreen’s store at Port St. Lucie Boulevard and Veterans’ Memorial Parkway) to the boat ramps and pavilion at Veteran’s Park at Rivergate.
Wilco Construction, from Ft. Pierce, is doing the work and has set up a fenced storage area for material and debris next to the parking lot at the boat ramps. The company also has fenced off access to the north end of the boardwalk for safety reasons, and the city asks curious observes to stay out of the closed areas, which are clearly marked.
Crews will replace the old wooden six-foot wide boardwalk with new pilings and substructure, a 10-foot wide deck with recycled lumber, a solar light system and thermoplastic handrails. About 450 feet of access boardwalks through the woods also will be reconstructed.
The $587,765 project will be complete in the fall, but the boat ramps and south end of the boardwalk will remain open throughout the construction.
Prepared by:
Ed Cunningham
Communications Director
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5219