Wabasso Beach Park makeover set for July start

Wabasso Beach Park, one of the island’s most popular beaches with young people which was hit hard by the 2004 hurricanes and never repaired, is expected to finally get a long-overdue million-dollar makeover starting in July.

The park, which had restrooms and a boardwalk as well as a lifeguard station before they were turned into a heap of rubble by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, has languished in a state of disrepair ever since.

The fact that the beach was packed on the Memorial Day weekend – despite having no facilities other than three decaying portable toilets and a torn-up parking lot that is barely navigable – is a testament to the enthusiasm many bathers and surfers still have for the park despite its neglect by the county.

But with the Federal Emergency Management Agency providing $556,000 and county insurance kicking in an additional $152,000, the longawaited reconstruction of Wabasso Beach Park seems close to finally getting underway.

The last remaining obstacle was a petition filed by a neighbor, Richard Ouejevolk, with the state Department of Environmental Protection objecting to the county’s plan to keep a 5,000- square-foot vacant lot on the northern side of the park fenced off as a staging area for future sand-replacement projects at Wabasso beach.

The lot is currently fenced off from the park, but not from neighboring homes to the north. Ouejevolk wants the lot fenced off from the homes, but open on the south side to the park for use as a playground.

While Ouejevolk’s petition asked for a hearing, he indicated he did not want to delay construction, but simply wanted to negotiate a settlement with the county. That news led some to believe that a contract could be awarded to one of the 16 bidders and work begun on the project shortly.

The project calls for placement of the new facilities at the park on pilings instead of concrete slabs, with new restrooms – replacing the portable toilets – connected to the county sewer system.

Assuming Ouejevolk comes to an agreement with the county and the project goes forward, Wabasso Beach Park may by the end of the year once again be the beachfront jewel of the northern sector of the barrier island.

Online edition update: Ouejevolk came to an agreement with the county, and withdrew his petition. Wabasso Beach park will be closed from July 1 to December 30 for the makeover.