Crandon Park Marina, located at 4000 Crandon Blvd. in Key Biscayne, has undergone a major facelift, which includes new charter boat docks, a new seawall and new state-of-the-art marina amenities that offer better access and security for boaters.
The new development is the result of an extensive shoreline restoration effort led by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND), the state’s sponsor of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
On Wednesday, June 4, the Miami- Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department and Miami-Dade County District 7 Commissioner Xavier Suarez will celebrate the newly renovated marina with an official ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. Boat lovers and other Key Biscayne residents are invited to join them for the ceremonies.
“The improvements to Crandon Marina have preserved a vital Miami-Dade County waterfront treasure and served to enhance the Marina as a world-class boating destination for visitors and residents,” said Miami- Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
“We commend the Parks Department for their collaborations and shared vision, which is helping us to restore and beautify the recreational treasures of our community,” he added.
“We are happy to provide this boating community with a fresher and new looking marina. This renewed facility is more accessible than ever, easier to use and will continue to meet the recreational needs of boaters for many years to come,” Commissioner Suarez said.
“Miami-Dade Parks is committed to meeting the needs of the boaters that use our marina facilities. These enhancements will enable us to provide the boating public with a better overall boating experience,” said Jack Kardys, Miami-Dade County Parks Department director.
As part of the marina restoration project, a total of 515 linear feet of existing concrete seawall (built circa 1950) was replaced with a newly designed ‘sheet pile seawall’ that consists of deep in ground galvanized steel piles encased in concrete. A new five-foot-wide cap was installed atop the new seawall, which added three more feet of boardwalk. The charter boat area received new fender and mooring piles, a new concrete walk with integrated light bollards and planters, and 10 new boat slips, each with its own new power/water pedestal and fish-cleaning station. The two original scales used for weighing-in fish were renovated and reinstalled on the docks, for a touch of nostalgia. There also is a new transient boat slip just south of the site.
The marina restorations were completed through the collaborative efforts of FIND, working with Neville/Steffens Architects LLP; Ports and Coastal Engineering Practice-Atkins; SDM Consulting Engineers Inc., and Construction Contractors-Shoreline Foundation Inc.
The marina also has added a new entrance and several new security features, such as eight-foot-high fencing around the perimeter and dry boat storage and wet slip areas, electronic gates that open and close via a key card, and non-motorized pedestrian gates that allow for emergency or occasional egress. The dry boat storage area also has new inside lighting fixtures and new HD security cameras and lamp posts for its parking lot.
All parking areas were re-surfaced and re-striped and have new wheel stops and traffic signage. The grounds have a new automatic irrigation system and new landscaping throughout that includes Emerald sod (a top golf course turf known as Zoysia) and an assortment of native trees, such as palms, oaks, royal poincianas, and gumbo limbos. There are new concrete walkways throughout the site, creating a seamless connection to marina facilities.
Miami-Dade County Parks worked in conjunction with KVH Architects, Laura Llerena and Associates Inc., and ABC Construction Inc. to complete the improvements.
The total cost for the marina restorations and improvements was $8.06 million. Funding was provided by the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program (BBC-GOB), Capital Outlay Reserve Funds (CORF), FIND, and the Marina Capital Improvements Fund.
For more information about Crandon Park Marina, call 305-361-1281, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks.
