Marina redevelopment, Lake Drive Park improvements on track for Nov. 1 completion

On time and on budget, a $38 million upgrade of the Town of Palm Beach Marina will be complete by Nov. 1 as scheduled, Public Works Director Paul Brazil confirmed Monday.

Construction is winding down on the massive renovation project, in which all facilities will be upgraded.

Work includes the expansion of 84 slips to allow larger boats, replacing stationary docks with floating docks, installing a new security system, and upgrading technology to include high-speed Wi-Fi and enhanced shore power.

The project also includes the addition of a fourth dock at the north end of the marina, which was built in the 1940s and most recently renovated in 1998.

More:Town Council approves $4 million budget for Lake Drive Park redesign

The 250-foot Palm Way Dock will join the classic Australian, Brazilian, and Peruvian docks, which were built in segments at Bellingham Marine in Jacksonville and then shipped to Palm Beach.

The Palm Way, Brazilian and Australian docks are all in place, Brazil said, while sections of the Peruvian dock are in place. The remaining dock sections are being delivered.

Utilities installation is complete for the Palm Way dock and underway at the Brazilian and Australian docks, Brazil said. Installation work has yet to begin at the Peruvian dock, as dredging continues nearby.

"Additional electrical crews have been mobilized to assure that utilities will be complete in time for opening," Brazil said.

The majority of the seawall cap has been poured, Brazil said, and just a few small sections remain. 

The City of West Palm Beach water mains services are underway, while the lift stations servicing the docks are in place.  

Additionally, the new server room servicing the marina is under construction, Brazil said.

"We are on budget and have only used approximately 16% of our contingency," Brazil said. "We are 80% to 85% complete."

To date, leases for 80% percent of the new marina's slips have been deposited for annual and seasonal lease contracts, Assistant Town Manager Carolyn Stone said.

For information or to request a slip, visit www.townofpalmbeachmarina.com or call 561-838-5463.

A marketing campaign to promote the marina will be launched this fall, with advertisements expected to appear in a variety of publications including Modern Luxury Palm Beach, Modern Luxury Hamptons and Manhattan, BOAT International, and DockWalk.

The Florida Inland Navigation District awarded two grants totaling $4.3 million to help pay for the reconstruction of the Town Marina, Brazil said.

In a separate but related project, work continues on a $4 million redesign of Lake Drive Park and improvements to the marina parking lots, which fall outside the scope of the existing construction plan for the marina.

The project includes new permeable walkways, native and low landscaping, traditional-style benches, a new flagpole, bike racks, and a new dog fountain composed of coral and antique tile with a bronze fixture.

Crews are installing the bike trail and pathways through the park, Brazil said. New landscaping and irrigation systems also are being installed. The new sidewalk on the east side of the park is nearly complete, while the installation of conduit for lighting and security is underway. 

Open greenspace will be re-sodded when other work is complete. Repaving the parking lots will be one of the final tasks, Brazil said. 

The project is expected to be complete by Nov. 1.

Work also is being completed outside the marina and the park, with town officials opting to undertake nearby projects now rather than having to tear up the road again in the next year or two, Brazil said.

Conduit for undergrounding and a new waterline for the City of West Palm Beach have been installed, while drainage and ADA improvements have been completed to ensure proper crosswalks.

"We have a lot of work going on," Brazil said.

A Town Marina project construction update will be provided to the public on Friday through Google Meet. The presentation begins at 8:30 a.m.

To receive an invite, email townmarina@burkhardtconstruction.com.

Jodie Wagner is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

@JRWagner5