When will the Humiston Park boardwalk be finished?

The City of Vero Beach is targeting completion by March 30, 2027, WQCS reported. Work has to finish before sea turtle nesting season begins in the spring.

When does construction on the Humiston boardwalk start?

Construction is set to begin Nov. 1, 2026, after sea turtle nesting season ends, according to Vero News.

How much does the new Humiston boardwalk cost?

The construction contract with Ferreira Construction is $1,767,109.77. Vero News put the total project cost, with design, permitting, inspection and contingency, at $2,975,141. The concrete pilings are donated.

Will Humiston Beach be closed during construction?

Portions of the park and beach will close as needed for safety, and the city has said residents will get advance notice, according to Vero News. No specific closure dates had been reported.

How can I donate to the Humiston boardwalk?

Vero News listed rebuildhumiston.org and 772-492-1407. Donations are managed by the Indian River Community Foundation. A name on a deck plank is $1,100 and a bench plaque is $10,000.

Around town

The Humiston boardwalk rebuild starts this month. What gets built, who pays, and when it should open

Four years after storms wrecked it, the Humiston Beach Park boardwalk is getting rebuilt. Here is what the city is building, where the money comes from, the gap that is still open, and what to expect at the beach this winter.

By The Vero Porch staff · November 1, 2026 · 3 min read · Vero Beach, Indian River County

If you have walked to the beach at Humiston Beach Park in the last few years, you know what is missing. The old boardwalk was damaged by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022, deemed unsafe and torn out. Since then, beachgoers have used a temporary pavilion and staircase.

That is about to change. Construction on a new boardwalk is set to begin Nov. 1, right after sea turtle nesting season ends, according to Vero News reports. Here is what Vero Beach residents should know.

How we got here

After the 2022 storms, the city first looked at cheaper options. In 2024, the City Council chose a concrete sidewalk instead of a new boardwalk, CBS12 reported. Residents pushed back, and in January 2025 the council changed course, CBS12 reported, and went back to a boardwalk, asking Indian River County to help pay for it. The county agreed to pay up to $400,000.

Seven companies bid on the job. The bids were opened Aug. 18, and the City Council approved a contract with the low bidder, Ferreira Construction, at its Aug. 25 meeting. Vero News reported the firm has a regional office in Hobe Sound and has done many projects for Indian River County, though this is its first job for the city.

What is being built

According to Vero News, the plans call for:

A 427-foot walkway set on prestressed concrete pillars, with a wooden frame.
Decking made of Trex, a composite made from recycled materials.
A 12-by-22-foot covered pavilion near the north end.
A 12-by-42-foot covered pavilion near the south end, with a handicap access ramp.
A low-maintenance aluminum railing, new benches and dune crossovers.

The concrete pilings are being donated by Clayton Sembler of CDS Manufacturing. Vero News valued the donation at $850,000. The city pays about $111,000 to ship them.

Who is paying for it

This is a public project, so part of the bill comes from tax dollars. Vero News laid out the funding in early October:

City of Vero Beach, from its five-year capital plan: $1 million.
Indian River County: $400,000.
FEMA reimbursement for the Ian and Nicole damage: $460,230.
State of Florida, 2025-26 budget: $350,000.
Private fundraising through the Indian River Community Foundation: $145,713 in cash and $160,000 in pledges.

A second $400,000 from the state was expected in the 2026-27 budget, but Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it on June 29, 2026. Vero News put the total project cost at $2,975,141, which includes design and permitting by Kimley-Horn, construction-phase services such as turtle monitoring and inspection, demolition and temporary repairs, and a contingency of about 20 percent. With $2,515,953 available, that left a gap of about $460,000.

To close it, a Humiston Boardwalk Citizens Committee led by Councilman John Carroll set a goal of raising $500,000, WQCS reported. Carroll also told WQCS that online reports of a one-year delay were not true.

The turtle clock

Timing is everything on this job. Because of sea turtle nesting season, WQCS reported that the work has to happen between October and April 1. The city is targeting completion by March 30, 2027.

What to do

Expect some closures. Vero News reported that portions of the park and beach will close as needed for safety, and that the city will give residents advance notice. Check the City of Vero Beach website or social media before you load up the beach chairs.
Plan for the March target. If everything stays on schedule, the new boardwalk should be done before nesting season starts in March 2027.
If you want to help, know the options. Vero News listed rebuildhumiston.org and 772-492-1407 for donations. Donor recognition ranges from a name on one of 236 deck planks for $1,100 to a plaque on one of 21 benches for $10,000, and up to naming rights on the pavilions.
Follow the money at City Hall. Money decisions on the project, like the contract and the donor plan, have gone before the Vero Beach City Council. Council meetings are open to the public.

Vero News also reported that a groundbreaking was set for Nov. 1. After four years of temporary stairs, Humiston may finally get its boardwalk back in time for spring.

Common questions

When will the Humiston Park boardwalk be finished?: The City of Vero Beach is targeting completion by March 30, 2027, WQCS reported. Work has to finish before sea turtle nesting season begins in the spring.
When does construction on the Humiston boardwalk start?: Construction is set to begin Nov. 1, 2026, after sea turtle nesting season ends, according to Vero News.
How much does the new Humiston boardwalk cost?: The construction contract with Ferreira Construction is $1,767,109.77. Vero News put the total project cost, with design, permitting, inspection and contingency, at $2,975,141. The concrete pilings are donated.
Will Humiston Beach be closed during construction?: Portions of the park and beach will close as needed for safety, and the city has said residents will get advance notice, according to Vero News. No specific closure dates had been reported.
How can I donate to the Humiston boardwalk?: Vero News listed rebuildhumiston.org and 772-492-1407. Donations are managed by the Indian River Community Foundation. A name on a deck plank is $1,100 and a bench plaque is $10,000.