The parking lot at River-to-Sea Preserve will remain closed for the time being, according to an announcement from the Flagler County government on Tuesday. The closure has been ongoing as a result of the ongoing beach reconstruction project in northern coastal Flagler.
According to the county engineer, this prolonged parking lot closure is a result of an adjustment in plans by the contractor who’s carrying out the project. The Beach Management Project – Reach 2 has been in progress since last year, restoring coastline from the northern portions of Flagler County all the way to the Flagler Beach Pier, which is currently under reconstruction.
Fortunately for residents hoping to resume their usage of the parking lot, the delay isn’t expected to be long. The beach restoration work was originally projected to be moving to the north in the middle of March, but the most recent estimates have the contractor staying there through the end of March.
“Our contractor has adjusted his plan and will no longer relocate to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park,” said Flagler County Engineer Hamid Tabbasian. “The current plan is to stay at River-to-Sea for the remaining duration of work, which should be ongoing until the end of March.”
River-to-Sea Preserve is located just south of Marineland Dolphin Adventure on SR-A1A. The preserve is just shy of Flagler County’s border with St. Johns County. With accommodations for dozens of cars, the sand parking lot is among the most popular beach access points in northern Flagler. The facility is managed by the Flagler County government within the Town of Marineland.
Amenities at River-to-Sea Preserve include picnic areas, fishing, canoe/kayak launches, and a boardwalk on the beach.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
