Garrison Bight marina to upgrade facilities for transient boaters

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

 

Boat owners docked at the Key West City Marina at Garrison Bight are getting a late Christmas present.

City Commissioners agreed Jan. 6 to accept a $500,000 state grant and kick in another $1.2 million for upgrades to the deteriorating city marina. The money will be used to build a combined transient bathhouse and dockmaster’s office and upgrade the electrical system in the marina.

Garrison Bight has 245 boat slips at the pier beside Palm Avenue for both transient boaters and live-aboards. The live-aboards have a separate bathhouse that will not be remodeled.

“Transient docks and amenities must be renovated and updated. The bathhouse has exceeded its life expectancy and the utilities are not meeting the need, resulting in power outages to the docks and slips,” said Carolyn Sheldon, Key West Grants Administrator, adding that the current dockmaster’s office is housed in a trailer.

Planned upgrades include increasing electrical service from 350 amps to 600 amps. The new transient restroom will include showers, dressing areas and laundry facilities.

Sheldon’s report to commissioners also stated that transient boat use of the Garrison Bight Marina has fallen 30 percent over the past few years. She blamed the decrease on the “deteriorating infrastructure” at the marina.

City Commissioners voted unanimously with no discussion to accept the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grant of $500,000.

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