Port Charlotte Beach Park rebuild to begin Oct. 16

Groundbreaking for the long-awaited reconstruction of Port Charlotte Beach Park’s recreation center and pool is set for Oct. 16, Charlotte County officials announced this week.

The ceremony, scheduled for 2:30 p.m., will mark the start of construction on the county’s largest storm-damaged park project. The complex’s recreation center, pool, piers, pavilions, restrooms, picnic areas, sailing center, kayak launch, boat ramp and playground sustained extensive damage from hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton.

Although some areas, including the sports courts, playground, boat ramp and parking lot, have reopened, most of the 16-acre park has remained closed. The recreation center and pool are being demolished, and the boardwalk has already been removed. County officials said a total of 57 items at the park were damaged, with losses topping $1.2 million.

Located on the Peace River at 4500 Harbor Blvd., the park’s beach also had to be rebuilt after severe erosion. Most of the site has been shuttered since Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, followed two weeks later by Hurricane Milton.

The new complex is being designed with resiliency in mind. Plans call for an elevated 20,751-square-foot recreation center with meeting and event space, a full catering kitchen, staff offices and a waterfront deck with a drop-off area.

A 5,765-square-foot pool house will accompany a new community pool designed for lap swimming, aerobic exercise, therapy and special events. The pool house will include lockers, showers, storage and office space.

For residents of the Buena Vista neighborhood, a peninsula community of about 480 homes on Charlotte Harbor, the reconstruction comes as welcome news. Dozens of residents previously packed county commission meetings urging the park’s reopening, citing i

ts importance to their social, mental and physical well-being.

Community Services Director Tommy Scott and Facilities Management Director Travis Perdue outlined the plans in April, noting the complexity of rebuilding the park’s many amenities.

The recreation center’s cost has risen from $10 million to $25 million, while the pool budget increased from $4.5 million to $5.5 million. Steve Padgett of PBK Architects designed the new facilities. Funding will come from the county’s 1% sales tax and Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements.

Design work wrapped up this summer, with construction set to begin in 2026. County officials expect the park to fully reopen by late 2026 or early 2027.

Originally built in 1972, the 16.08-acre Port Charlotte Beach Park was last renovated in 2012 with funding from the county’s 1998 sales tax and the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program.