Renderings for the new Port Charlotte Beach complex, due to fully open in 2027, were revealed during the Charlotte County Commissioners meeting April 22. Department heads, the site engineer and architect presented details for the beach park’s recreation center, pool and other amenities.
Hurricane Ian caused significant wind and storm surge damage to the beach complex in September 2022, with hurricanes Helene and Milton causing further damage two years later.
Community Services Director Tommy Scott presided over the presentation with Facilities Management Director Travis Perdue to explain the project and its many moving parts.
The Port Charlotte Beach Park Recreation Center’s design, budgeted for $10 million, is estimated to cost $25 million, and the Port Charlotte Beach Park Pool design’s cost, budgeted for $4.5 million, is now estimated at $5.5 million.
Steve Padgett, principal with PBK Architects, designed the two facilities.
Funding for the beach park and its structures will come from the county’s 1% sales tax and reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Design work is expected to be completed this summer, with construction beginning in the fall of 2026.
For residents, especially those living in the Buena Vista neighborhood near the beach park, the reopening can’t come soon enough. Many regularly attended board meetings, urging commissioners to open the park sooner.
Commissioner Ken Doherty said it would be unwise to open any part of the park now.
Scott concurred, saying, “This park is a significant construction zone. We want this park open but there’s so much going on. We don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
He outlined the work that must be done first before any portion can be opened.
The boardwalk will be removed in mid-July. Next, demolition will take place. Staff will move fences and remove grills in the park, and bollards — short vertical safety posts that serve as barriers — will be replaced.
The sand will be raked and the channel next to the beach park will be dredged at the same time beach renourishment takes place.
The western section of the park could reopen but not until mid-July to August.
Perdue said the new rec center will have a grand lobby, an expansive porch area, a large event room that can be divided into two, a conference room, kitchen, office space and multiple restrooms.
Site engineer Todd Rebol of Atwell Engineering said both the rec center and pool building will be resilient to storms.
The rec center’s elevation is going to be 20.2 feet with thickened slabs, cast pilings, solid concrete poured walls, epoxy floors and other storm hardening materials for both buildings, Padgett said.
It will also have flood panel barriers that can be stored in the facility.
Scott said grounds improvements will include a new playground, tennis and pickleball courts, bocce ball and basketball courts, horseshoe and cornhole areas, a fitness pod, 12-by-15-foot shelter, a 42-by-42-foot shelter, 6-foot bench and a 5-foot sidewalk.
Commissioners gave Scott the authorization to have the park’s wooden pavilions demolished since they are not up to code and are damaged.
The new shelters will be reinforced with steel poles and built to code.
Commissioner Chris Constance suggested that Scott post all documents related to the project online for the public to understand the project’s complexity.
