By David Feight, GSAC Board Member
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One of the most frequent questions we get asked is: “When will the beachwalk (promenade) be restored from the damages it suffered from Hurricanes Helene and Milton”?
Although GSAC doesn’t have an ownership interest in this private walkway that extends from LeParc on the north to Horizon House on the south, we reached out to the 5 Commons that own the adjoining sections about their recovery plans.
It’s a good news – bad news story. The sections of the beachwalk that suffered the most damage from Ian suffered the least from Milton and vice versa.
The northern half of the beachwalk (Commons W & V) and surrounding parks suffered only minor damage, primarily from sand intrusion. Although the storm surge was significant, the 13 ft berm/beachwalk, which was reconstructed to current standards after Hurricane Ian, did its job and protected the upland area from flooding. In addition to providing protection from storms, the berm also serves as a stormwater management system.
As one walks south from Commons V, the 13 ft berm/beachwalk tapers down to sea level.
That is where the real problems from Milton began.
Without the dune to hold back the surge, the gulf flowed into the Commons T & U park and brought along with it several feet of sand that damaged the lighting and destroyed the dune walkovers. Commons T & U reports the clean sand has been returned to the beach, lighting repairs are almost complete, and the dune walkovers should be reconstructed within the next month.
The Park Shore Association to the south saw significant damage from several feet of sand that was carried into the park from the tidal surge. To date, the beachwalk in this area has been cleared, much of the clean sand has been returned to the beach, and they are working on a master plan that will hopefully provide more protection to their park from future storms.
Further south, the last 2 Commons (S & R) saw the worst of Milton. The sand intrusion was even greater in this area. Sections of the concrete walkway were upended, or at the least twisted, making walking dangerous and difficult. As with the other Commons, much of the clean sand has been moved back to the beach, and landscaping plans are being developed. However, it might be some time until the concrete repairs are completed.
Due to the extensive damage to the beachwalk at sea level and the upland property, Commons T & U and S & R are looking at ways together to better protect their property and condominiums from future storms. One potential option is to elevate the walkway to the same 13 ft level at the north. As a first step, a feasibility study has been approved and will begin in the next several weeks. A report is anticipated to be delivered within a few months.
To sum up, the north half of the beachwalk is back to “normal” and can be enjoyed by the many walkers who use it every day. The south half is a work in progress. Commons S & R asks that the beachwalk be used with extreme caution and, to the extent possible, walking along the beach is preferable.
As a reminder, the beachwalk is private property for use by the residents and guests of the condominiums along the beachwalk and Commons parks.
