A major waterfront rebuild is set to begin in Safety Harbor, marking a significant step in the city’s recovery from the devastating hurricanes of last year.

The Fire Marshal Dick Brock Memorial Pier—once a lively spot for fishing, sunset views, and community gatherings—was destroyed during the storms, leaving only its pilings behind.

Beginning July 7, the city will close access to the pier area and surrounding marina docks for an estimated 18 months to allow for reconstruction. Though the closure will temporarily limit waterfront access, many in the community see it as a necessary sacrifice to bring back a vital part of the city’s identity.

Darren Loscalzo, owner of Backwater Provisions Company in downtown Safety Harbor, said his business—which sells fishing gear and coastal-themed apparel—has taken a hit since the pier’s loss.

“Since those hurricanes, that business has dropped and declined for us,” Loscalzo told Bay News 9. “We miss those. The kids, you know, really, that’s who I feel for. I feel for the kids that fished out there every day. And they can’t do that now. So we’re super excited that it’s coming back.”

The Safety Harbor City Commission has allocated $2.7 million to rebuild the pier and repair the adjacent marina—an investment that city leaders say will restore both a beloved gathering place and a key economic asset.

“A lot of the locals and a lot of kids that spent time down there, it was the one place I think they felt safe,” Loscalzo added. “They could go out, fish, have a great time, come back, they could come here and get bait and everything they needed to do it for.”

City officials estimate the new pier will be completed between December 20 and December 26 of next year—just in time to mark the return of a cherished waterfront landmark.

In the meantime, residents and businesses are bracing for short-term inconvenience with long-term hope, welcoming the construction as a step toward restoring the heart of Safety Harbor.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News)

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