Lorraine Anderson, a spokesperson for the City of Venice, has stated that although some progress has been made, the South Jetty’s recovery from the damages inflicted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be a prolonged effort.

The city’s insurance contractor has finished demolishing and clearing the debris of the concession building at Humphris Park on the South Jetty. The building, which hosted Jetty Jack’s, was obliterated by the extreme storm surge from last year’s hurricanes.

The storms also severely impacted the parking lot, the walkway along the Jetty, the rock revetment, and the channel’s bulkhead. 

The damaged rock revetment and bulkheads, which are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), are currently being assessed for complete redesign and replacement. 

Due to the structural support these features provide, the City of Venice cannot proceed with repairs to the parking area or reopen the park until the USACE completes the necessary replacements. 

The City is in weekly communication with the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND), the local partner of USACE, to push forward this vital project. However, the timeline for these repairs heavily relies on federal funding schedules.

In the meantime, the City’s Public Works Department will continue to clean up the remaining storm debris at Humphris Park, preparing for the extended repair timeline.

Further updates will be provided as more details emerge. For additional information on the South Jetty, including a fact sheet, please visit: https://www.venicegov.com/visiting/south-jetty.

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