The new Humiston Beach boardwalk has 236 deck planks available for engraving at $1,100 each and 21 new benches at $10,000 each. If every one of them sold, the total would be $469,600. As of Vero News' Oct. 1 report, the project was about $460,000 short.
So the gap and the donor inventory are almost the same size. The beach at 3000 Ocean Drive has been closed since Oct. 19 and is expected to stay closed through mid-February. That closure is also the window for selling the planks, because the active fundraising push ends Dec. 31.
Why a Funded Project Still Has a Gap
The construction is paid for. Vero News reported that the city has enough from appropriations, grants and donations to start the basic work on schedule, according to Public Works Director Matthew Mitts. The shortfall comes from costs that weren't in Ferreira Construction's low bid of $1,767,109.
That bid left out several items:
- About $125,000 the city already spent demolishing most of the old boardwalk and temporarily shoring up the remaining pavilion and beach access
- $280,625 for permitting and design by Kimley-Horn
- $337,577 for construction-phase services, including turtle-nest monitoring and engineering inspections
- An estimated $111,000 to ship the donated concrete pilings
- A $353,422 contingency, about 20 percent of the construction contract
That brings the full project to $2,975,141. Against it, the city has $1 million from its five-year capital plan, $400,000 from Indian River County, $460,230 from FEMA for Ian and Nicole damage, and $350,000 from the state's 2025-2026 budget. Another $400,000 the city expected in the 2026-2027 state budget was vetoed on June 29. Private giving has added $145,713 in cash and $160,000 in pledges through a campaign managed by the Indian River Community Foundation. Vero News put the total available at about $2.5 million.
Clayton Sembler of CDS Manufacturing donated the prestressed concrete pilings, valued at $850,000. At the Aug. 25 council meeting, the city manager said the donation covers all of the piling and concrete substructure products.
Councilmember John Carroll told Vero News that the council knew money had already been spent and expected to get it back:
"We're in a lot better shape than anybody ever expected. Those were not really surprise numbers at all."
He also explained the contingency. Over the years, a number of structures have stood on that spot, and he said "it wouldn't be surprising to run into some pipes, old sections of seawall, or other debris during construction."
What Each Name Buys
The citizens committee Carroll formed this summer wrote a recognition system that matches the physical layout of the new boardwalk.
| Gift | Recognition | How many |
|---|---|---|
| $1,100 | Name engraved on a Trex deck plank | 236 planks |
| $5,000 or more | Name on the Founders Plaque at the main entrance | One plaque |
| $10,000 | Engraved brass plaque on a new bench | 21 benches |
| $25,000 | Stair entry post plaque at a dune crossover | Two per crossover, four crossovers |
| $100,000 | Naming rights, 22-by-12-foot north pavilion | One |
| $250,000 | Naming rights, 42-by-12-foot south pavilion | One |
The 21 new benches will sit beside 32 benches saved from the old boardwalk. Those salvaged benches still carry plaques for their original donors. When the boardwalk reopens, the names from the first boardwalk and the names from this one will share the same deck. The campaign traces the boardwalk back to the 1930s, and local philanthropist Tom Corr got the private effort started with a $100,000 pledge.
Gifts can be made by credit card at RebuildHumiston.org, or by check or securities following the Community Foundation's giving instructions. Checks should be made out to Indian River Community Foundation with "Humiston Boardwalk Fund" noted. To claim an engraving, download the recognition form and email it to the city contact listed on the campaign page. Vero News reported that the Foundation will help with the financial paperwork required for tax purposes. This is general information, not tax advice, so check with your own advisor about how a gift fits your situation.
The Dec. 31 date is less firm than it sounds. Council minutes from Aug. 25 show the committee sunsets at the end of December, but if planks remain unsold, sales will continue until they're gone.
What Goes In While the Beach Is Closed
The city chose the plainer of two designs it put out to bid. Staff had priced a more decorative railing to match Sexton Plaza, then recommended the plain stainless steel handrail instead because it costs less to build and to maintain. The finished boardwalk will have four dune crossovers, a smaller pavilion on the north end and a larger one on the south end. More details are on the city's Humiston Beach Boardwalk project page.
Sea turtle nesting season sets the project calendar.
- Aug. 25, 2026: The council awards the contract to Ferreira Construction of Hobe Sound.
- Week of Oct. 19: Setup begins, according to TCPalm, and the beach closes.
- Nov. 1: Nesting season ends, and the contract's start date allows work on the sand.
- Mid-February: The beach is expected to reopen, according to the Chamber's closure notice.
- March 1: The contractor has to be off the beach before next nesting season, since any later work needs inspectors' permission day by day.
The contract runs 110 calendar days. Materials are staged on the grass northeast of the park inside construction fencing, so deliveries can be unloaded ahead of time and stored. The playground stays open throughout.
Where to Get in the Water Until February
Four other ocean beaches are nearby, and they offer different levels of service.
| Beach | Operated by | Lifeguards | Parking and facilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaycee Beach Park | City of Vero Beach | On site | Parking, restrooms |
| South Beach Park | City of Vero Beach | On site | Parking, restrooms |
| Round Island Oceanside Beach Park | Indian River County | 9:10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | Free parking, restrooms, outdoor showers; open 7 a.m. to sunset |
| Seagrape Trail Beach Access | Indian River County | None | 20 parking spaces; open 7 a.m. to sunset |
For a lifeguarded swim with no Humiston, Jaycee and South Beach are the city's two options. Round Island is the only one on this list with posted lifeguard hours. Seagrape Trail is a quick access point with limited parking and no guard.
What Still Happens at Humiston Park
The park's event calendar is still running. The Vero Beach Art Club's 45th annual Art in the Park lists Humiston Park for four Sundays, each from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
- Nov. 8
- Nov. 22
- Dec. 6
- Dec. 20
The free Sunset Saturdays concert series, presented by the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce, takes place on Ocean Drive by Humiston Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Stacy's Soul plays Nov. 14 and RipTide plays Dec. 12. Mitts told Vero News that parts of the park may close temporarily during construction for safety reasons, so check with each organizer before heading over.
Those events bring crowds to the edge of the fenced site while the planks are still for sale. The committee has talked about asking the contractor to put up a fundraising sign in the park, and about holding a ground-breaking celebration with music and food that would also raise money. For project and design questions, the campaign page lists Public Works Director Matthew Mitts at [email protected]. Donations can also go through the Community Foundation at 772-492-1407.
Living near Central Beach means your home is tied to places like Humiston, and we follow these projects closely. If you'd like to know how the beach, the boardwalk and the rest of Ocean Drive factor into your home's value, Team Provancher can walk you through it. Get Your Instant Home Valuation.
