By Hannah Spence
Last fall, South Palm Beach was set to receive a long-anticipated dune restoration, but the plan was delayed in part because of the difficulty the project had securing a beach access point south of the Lake Worth Beach pier.
The six-week project, which is being managed by the town of Palm Beach, is expected to start Nov. 1.
The Atriums of Palm Beach, a condominium complex at 3400 S. Ocean Blvd., will provide access for the sand that is being trucked in for the dunes that will be constructed on the upper part of the beach.
About 30,000 cubic yards of sand will be brought from a stockpile of sand at Phipps Ocean Park in Palm Beach to the Atriums, where it will be dumped on conveyor belts that will carry it to the beach. Trucks on the beach will then grade the sand.
At a Sept. 8 South Palm Beach Town Council meeting, Kevin Hall, a resident and property manager of Palmsea Condominiums, asked if people should stay off the beach and avoid the trucks. Sara Gutekunst, coastal coordinator for the town of Palm Beach, said that’s not necessary.
“People will continue to have access to the beach while the project is ongoing and can enjoy the beach in areas that are not active construction zones,” said Gutekunst. “The portion of the beach under active construction may be temporarily closed to ensure public safety.”
The cost of the dune construction from Sloans Curve to South Palm Beach was just over $1 million, and an additional cost is expected because of the delays and changes in construction methods.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded a grant of $319,150 for the project. That money is for the construction of dunes as a result of erosion from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022.
“The beach dune restoration efforts are ongoingly important to maintaining the natural coastal environment in optimal shape and configuration,” said South Palm Beach Town Manager Jamie Titcomb. “Beach quality is important to our local residents as well as seasonal visitors alike, and the overall economic development for our entire region.
“Palm Beach will be managing the operational aspects, and I’m sure to communicate safety protocols and timelines pertinent to beachgoers and residents, which we’ll communicate further through our apps and systems to our residents at appropriate times.”
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