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Fernandina Beach Seaside Park overhaul moves toward construction with $3.9M plan
FERNANDINA BEACH - The city’s long-anticipated overhaul of Seaside Park is moving toward construction, with city officials and consultants telling commissioners Tuesday that design work is essentially complete and bidding could begin this summer.
“This is a long-range multi-agency effort to rethink how the island's public beach parks function, both for residents and visitors,” Glisson said. “It’s less of a single project and more of a master plan framework guiding decisions over decades.”
“We’ve talked about this hit and miss over the last year or two, but it’s finally closer to becoming a reality,” Glisson said.
Seaside Park was selected as the first phase due to aging infrastructure and deteriorating conditions, according to the presentation.
An interlocal agreement between the city and Nassau County is currently being drafted and will determine final funding and construction responsibilities.
“There’s not much that we can actually change as far as the organization of items … we can do improvements to the original layout,” said Max Spann of Halff Associates.
“We’ve done significant improvement to the parking and really the infrastructure of the project,” Spann said.
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Reworked parking layout without reducing total spaces
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New and reconstructed boardwalks to improve beach access
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Pavilion upgrades and additional shaded seating areas
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Expanded bike parking and shared-use paths
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Wayfinding signage and designated pedestrian crossings
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Native landscaping and dune protection measures
Stormwater management is also a major component, shifting from surface ponding to underground systems with exfiltration trenches and sand filtration structures to improve drainage and reduce environmental impact.
Plans incorporate turtle-friendly lighting, reduced intrusion into dune areas, and the use of native vegetation in compliance with Florida Communities Trust requirements.
“We want to make sure we don’t plant too far down into the bottom area where most of the wildlife is … but we want to make sure that there’s a significant buffer where you can’t actually go down into that area,” Spann said.
“We’re discouraging it,” Spann said.
Once the interlocal agreement is finalized and funding confirmed, the project is expected to move into procurement this summer, with construction beginning in the fall of 2026.
“We’ll bring more information on that back here soon,” Glisson said.
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RichardTimm
I am confused. The Seaside Park walkway was rebuilt just a couple years ago. Will it be turn down and built again. That is quite a waste. I imagine the new park will be nice, so I don't mean to be the naysayer, but if this means ripping out what was just built, then I would rather see this investment put toward a different beach access as part of the "master plan".
Thursday, April 23 Report this
RobertR
Spend, spend, spend when does it end? City just "rebuilt" this area less than three years ago? What's another $4 million NBD I guess thinks City planning is thinking. How about this for a novel concept...... Fixed budget no additional spending='s no additional taxes for City residents. Two year budget cycle freeze. Again, if the TDC collected $ 8 MILLION in 2025 how's about they pony up for any park improvements as me thinks Tourists sure use parks~~this one in particular so the $$ qualifies. Just a thought which like sand in the wind on the beach will just.....disappear I suspect. Tax and spend is fine so long as you can burn thru the $$. A repeat of 2008~~2010 is soon on our horizon I fear. The times they are a chang'in.
Thursday, April 23 Report this
FunnyGirl4615
I am also confused. What is now an access point for cars onto the beach looks to be closed off. What is the actual fact of the matter? Check out the dashed red lines and tell me what you think.
Thursday, April 23 Report this
warrenmatt
I can't help but to be taken aback by the apparent lack of "common sense" with regards to this project. The rebuild of the walkway only completed a few years ago, to a park whose adjacent area in totally packed so often, with so little parking now. Enlarging that park sounds great but seems to be such a tremendous waste of money that will only cause so much more congestion in that small area. With so many other costly projects needed and planned in the historic district and other areas of the island, this seems just another example of the city commissioners lack of prudent judgement as to what is best for homeowners and residents.
Thursday, April 23 Report this
Douglas69
any soccer fields included? park upgrades are nice but this seems like a misguided one, given the ongoing soccer field shortfall
Friday, April 24 Report this