The County, The City and Their Glorious Sidewalk are a Testimony of Responsible Government.

If a select people want a boardwalk, then privately raise the money. And remember, it can only be built when the turtles are out to sea.

The concrete walk built over the front of the dunes that was partially destroyed by Hurricane Nicole. The metal guardrails and electric junction boxes never turned the tourists away. (Photo courtesy of COVB.org)

There are a few pictures of the old wooden Humiston Park boardwalk on the web in the archives of the TCPalm. It looks like the old concrete one but it is made of wood. It is a block and a half long, built over the front of the dunes with benches on it. As a nostalgic reminder, it isn’t really unique. It is not like there are shops on the boardwalk, an amusement park or other slices of Americana that make boardwalks endearing, stealing the hearts of visitors to a beach.

Looking at three plans the City of Vero Beach estimated for the rebuilding of a walk along the frontal space of Humiston Park, one realizes they were all functional proposals in their own right. However, the main reason for their beauty and endearing quality is the glorious Atlantic Ocean and probably some of the best beaches on Florida’s east coast. The natural beauty of “Where the Tropics Begin” shines through any constructed artifice to lay over the land and a portion of dunes that gives OSHA and ADA-styled approved access to a pristine beach.

Since the minor hurricane, Nicole, took apart the current rendition of a concrete walk installed along the portion of oceanfront, the City of Vero Beach had been ruminating on a plan to replace it. In March of 2024, they shared 3 alternatives consisting of a traditional boardwalk, a more expensive concrete walk replicating what was damaged, and, a sidewalk that curves genteelly along the oceanfront. Once again, the greatest similarities of all of these proposals is the gorgeous mystery already provided by creation.

The major difference is price. In an effort to be fiscally sound, they voted unanimously for the sidewalk on June 11, 2024. A wise government choice was made.

Each proposal considered the 1.5 block walk, 4 beach access “dune overwalks,” including an ADA approved handicap access ramp, site preparation, and new plants for the dune restoration. The rebuild of the concrete walk with its proposed metal and cement guardrails came in at a whopping $175 a square foot. Total cost for the project was $1.991 million. Add pavilions and a lifeguard stand - it’s $2.3 million.

Needless to say, the previous walk was not attractive though designed over the dunes like its 1930’s predecessor. It was installed in the early 1980’s for the purpose of safety when storms of years passed wiped-out a now fondly remembered wooden structure. How many times did the City live through a Big Bad Wolf scenario before they changed it to cement?

However, the sentimentality of a strip of walkway from yesteryear that prominently gives direct access to perhaps 5% of beach oceanfront is over the top. The estimate for the boardwalk project came in at $1.6 million. It did not include the 2 pavilions proposed in the sidewalk version which costs only $813,000. It also didn’t include the lifeguard facility.

The artist rendering of the proposed sidewalk. The lifeguard station in the background would be replaced by a standing chair, common on the oceanfront which would further open up access to ocean views. (Photo courtesy of COVB.org)

The City’s proposal of the delicately directed sidewalk pushes overall park access closer to the oceanfront according to the renderings. It is a wise decision. A sidewalk is not as easily subjected to storm damage. In terms of the design’s wherewithal, it is probably the easiest to maintain. It is built into the area where there once was an easement that separated park users from the dunes and provides closer ocean views. To protect the dunes, the guard rope fencing along the path is organically easy on the eyes - not an obnoxious rail to obstruct a visitor’s enjoyment.

FEMA breaks it’s promise

On December 3rd, City Manager, Monte Falls, visited the County Commission to ask them to partner with the City in financing the approved sidewalk project. Mr. Falls came to the County because FEMA backed out on their funding commitment. In March of 2024, FEMA verbalized in email to the City of Vero Beach a pledge of $403,000 after rejecting their application of $1.9 million. By August, that amount was reduced to $83,000. These days, the feds will only print minimum dollars for American recovery from natural disasters.

County Administrator, John A. Titkanich, shared about FEMA’s duplicity as he presented the issue to the Board of Commissioners noting the City had appealed FEMA’s decision. However, that appellate decision is 90 days away with no guarantee of being ruled in favor of Vero Beach. In his initial response Commission Chairman, Joe Flescher, said, “In opting for the sidewalk, historical value is not a concern. What is the concern is getting back an infrastructure.”

Mr. Titkanich and Mr. Falls confirmed Commissioner Flescher’s understanding. The Chairman opened the issue for board discussion. Laura Moss spoke first noting after a brief explanatory history of the tourist tax, that the City of Vero Beach has been responsible for 48% of the revenue from 2020 to 2024. The rest of the county is 52%. She added, “The City of Vero Beach contributes one half of the tourist tax. There is no other municipality that compares to that. So, we are not setting a precedent by supporting them or partnering with them on a boardwalk. [We need] a real boardwalk because a sidewalk is not going to cut it.”

She noted the hi-end Ocean Drive hotels costing upwards of $1500 a night during the season. She described the City as an ‘economic engine’ within the county. In her view, the oceanfront needed refined Americana — like a true boardwalk — to continue to attract tourism. Yet, it was noted that the old concrete industrial walk was near the end of its structural life. For 40 years, the local tourism industry had demonstrated growth without such a boardwalk.

Commissioner Susan Adams (Fellsmere) also noted many other attractions throughout the county that may ask for funding. She did not want to set a precedent for funding using Tourist Development Council (TDC) tax revenue. Mr. Titkanich shared how it would be fine to partner using monies from the County’s general fund instead of TDC. There was a vain attempt by Commissioner, Joe Earman, to push for the $1.6 million wooden boardwalk. The County Commission rejected that motion 3 to 2. At the end of the discussion on December 3rd, the commission voted 5-0 to see how they could partner with the City of Vero Beach to partially finance the plan for a sidewalk.

Mr. Falls returned to the December 17th commission meeting to share what he and Administrator Titkanich resolved. Mr. Titkanich recommended, “Indian River County Board of County Commissioners will contribute up to $400,000 or 50% of the Humiston project (Alternative 3) less any federal, state, or private grant, reimbursement, or appropriation, whichever is less.”

The recommendation may have been limiting, but it was the County’s fair share. It was approved 4-1. The support of the County Commission was perfectly reasonable and a wisely principled decision to help build appropriate infrastructure.

Donors would have to raise more than half for a boardwalk

If proponents of a boardwalk privately raise the funds, it would require yet another vote of the City Council to repeal what they have approved. Yet, the traditional boardwalk would be impossible to construct on the current schedule. Mr. Falls said to the County Commission on December 3rd that “the City was behind the eight-ball” regarding their timeline to get the sidewalk proposal processed and permitted so construction could begin on November 1, 2025. Mr. Falls mentioned that their timeline should have started in October. Any new consideration would delay construction for another year. Window openings for oceanfront construction are short—November to February—because no activity can take place during turtle season.

Secondly, those who are proposing to raise funds for the boardwalk will need a substantial portion of the near $2 million price tag according to Mr. Falls’ testimony before the County Commission. The estimate includes pavilions and lifeguard facility. Based on his presentation to the Commission, they are about $1.2 million short. Outside of that $100,000 pledged by Tom Corr, there was about $15,000 pledged. The boardwalk fundraising drive will be the topic at the next Let’s Talk Vero event on January 8th at Riverside Theater.

Depending on how the final funding agreement is written, the County Commission could withdraw their support if the project changes to fund a neoclassical boardwalk. Governments tend to specifically direct spending toward defined projects. Even though it would be an alternative solution to remedy the the infrastructure of Humiston Park, a new project approach will require a separate approving vote. The price and responsibility for any unforeseen circumstances will be different.

Other media suggested the County should pay for the boardwalk. Commissioner Adams said it would be inconsiderate to the City’s representation of their citizens. Commissioners agreed. They did not want to force the hand of the City by overriding their approval of the sidewalk. Commissioner Flescher reminded members that historical value was not considered in the proposal due to cost. Mr. Falls expressed the City’s financial position on the sidewalk project as “what they could afford.”

Respecting the City’s autonomy, the Commissioners approved matching funds for the fiscally sound sidewalk. The decision of the County and City partnership is a perfectly reasonable solution.