The City of Naples is moving forward with two key coastal infrastructure projects: the Public Beach Access Restoration Project and the Beach End Seawall Replacement Project. These projects are part of the City’s ongoing commitment to improving public beach access, protecting shoreline infrastructure, and enhancing long-term coastal resilience.
Both projects experienced delays due to federal and state permitting requirements, FEMA coordination, and impacts from recent hurricanes. The City has worked diligently to meet all federal and state compliance standards and is now moving forward with construction.
Beach End Seawall Replacement Project
Contract Awarded: May 7, 2025
Contractor: YC Group, LLC
Contract Amount: $1,305,794.00
The City will be:
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Replacing seawalls at the North Lake Drive, 14th Avenue South, and 16th Avenue South beach ends.
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Constructing new seawalls at the 3rd Avenue South and 15th Avenue South beach ends.
The seawall designs include buried toe-scour rock revetments on the seaward side, tie-backs, and return walls on the north and south property lines. Each location is expected to take approximately two months to complete, weather permitting. Construction at 3rd Avenue South and 15th Avenue South will begin first and occur simultaneously.
As required by state and federal regulations, temporary fencing with turtle-friendly screening has been installed ahead of sea turtle nesting season, which begins May 1. These closures secure the sites before nests are laid and are a critical step in maintaining compliance with environmental protection requirements. While fencing may remain in place prior to construction, its early installation is necessary for permitting and wildlife safety.
Beach Access Restoration Project
Contract Awarded: April 16, 2025
Contractor: Infinite Construction, LLC
Contract Amount: $2,591,232.96
Notice to Proceed Issued: May 13, 2025
Construction Start: Anticipated week of May 20, 2025
This project focuses on restoring 30 of the City's 40 beach access points while reducing impervious surfaces and embracing a more natural, “Old Florida” aesthetic. As a result:
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Some beach ends that previously had benches may have fewer.
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Other sites that previously had no furnishings may now include one or more benches.
Design decisions were shaped by environmental mitigation goals and a desire to create welcoming, resilient public spaces for all.
Minimizing Disruptions
The City understands the community’s concerns about the timing and volume of construction activity, especially during season. Schedules are driven by multiple factors, including:
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Permit expiration dates
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Contractor availability
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Material delivery timelines
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Regulatory and environmental requirements
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Coordination with other active projects
To minimize long-term disruption and reduce the number of closed beach accesses at any one time, work will take place at multiple locations simultaneously.
We sincerely appreciate your patience and support as we work to complete these important projects, which will enhance safety, access, and coastal resilience for years to come.
Public Beach Access Memorial Benches (Includes Lowdermilk Park)
New benches are being installed at each beach end, and every effort is being made to replace the existing plaques that were damaged by Hurricane Ian. Installations will not be scheduled until the corresponding beach end is slated for reconstruction - please view the "Beach Access Status" section for an overview of the Beach Access Restoration Project's timeline. The Community Services department will be contacting the owners of the plaques prior to reinstallation to confirm their continued interest and review new program guidelines. Residents and plaque owners with questions about this program and the reinstallation process are encouraged to reach out to Roxanne Nieto at rnieto [at] naplesgov.com (rnieto[at]naplesgov[dot]com).
At this time, the City is not accepting any donations for memorial benches or new plaque requests.
