MONROE COUNTY WORKING ON SCENIC VISTA PROJECTS AT TWO COUNTY PARKS

 

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County’s Project Management Department is overseeing a project to construct two scenic vistas at two County parks along the Overseas Heritage Trail System.

The $763,000 project is funded with a grant by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Construction began May 29 with the Big Pine Key Community Park scenic vista. It includes installation of wood framing, decking and railing system; interpretive sign panels; benches; LED solar lighting and viewing scopes to look out over the Gulf of Mexico. A new concrete approach path was built to connect to the existing pathway.

The Big Pine Key Community Park scenic vista is nearing completion. Fencing is still around it to allow the new sod to take root and to have the final inspection.

Soon, work will begin on rehabilitating the Reynolds Street Pier and constructing a Scenic Vista pedestrian plaza at the entrance to the pier at Monroe County’s Higgs Beach, located in Key West. This part of the project is expected to be completed by the end of October.

It includes improvements to Reynolds Street Pier, which extends about 400 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. The portion of the pier, which consists of a string of 1948 remnant pilings that extend 600 feet farther into the ocean, will not be disturbed.

The existing pedestrian pier deck that is made of slats will be replaced with an approved fiberglass reinforced plastic grating. There will be a safety railing and new pedestrian benches.

Two existing stairs made of aluminum and concrete that allow swimmers into deeper water on the leeward side of the pier will be replaced with new durable stairs.

The project also will include improvements and enhancement to a small area of the beach, including construction of a new shelter pavilion. The existing concrete sidewalk/ramp leading from the street to the pier will be renovated.  And, existing palm trees will be relocated and a new palm tree will be added.

The construction is being done by Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc.

Photos by Ray Sanders of the nearly completed Scenic Vista at Big Pine Key Community Park.

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