News

By Jane Smith

Major construction work at the municipal beach promenade was finished in late October. Smaller items, such as landscaping, remain to be finished by Thanksgiving.
The $3.1 million Delray Beach project includes solar-powered smart meters, a tricolor sidewalk, new beach furniture — benches, showers, water fountains, bike and surfboard racks — and trash containers.
In late October, the contractor replaced concrete sections that were too rough for city standards, said Isaac Kovner, city engineer. The new sections sit south of the Atlantic Avenue pavilion.
A date for the ribbon-cutting has not been chosen, Kovner said. He expects the official opening to take place after Thanksgiving.
Construction of the two gazebos is nearly finished, according to the city’s progress report.
Smart parking meters, already activated on the south end of the beach, will be usable the first full week of November for the northern portion.
Wheelchair users will have independent access to the beach in mid-November. That’s when the Mobi-Mats will arrive, said Suzanne Fisher, parks and recreation director. The mats sit on top of the sand, allowing wheelchair users the ability to roll themselves down to the beach. The mats will be placed at the Atlantic Avenue pavilion entrance.
For safety reasons, the city asks residents and visitors to enter the beach at the designated entrances: across from the Sandoway parking lot on the south end, at the main pavilion at Atlantic Avenue, at the Marriott Hotel crosswalk on the north end and at the Thomas Street crosswalk on the north end.
The city added a third Downtown Trolley route for those choosing to park in the city garages.
For questions about parking during the construction, call Jorge Alarcon at 243-7000, ext. 4112.
For the trolley service questions, call Xavier Falconi at 243-7000 ext. 4113.
The promenade contractor has removed all of the benches with plaques and the city is storing them for the original donors. They each will receive a free inscribed brick near the flagpole at Atlantic Avenue.
For questions about the benches and plaques, call 243-7000, ext. 4119.