A scenic boardwalk through Hammock Park in Dunedin could be permanently closed if voters approve a November referendum eliminating property taxes, a city parks official told commissioners at a July 9 meeting.
Commissioners voted unanimously that night to approve a $152,231 contract with Price Marine Construction of Tarpon Springs to replace the aging structure. But whether the project moves forward may hinge on the outcome of the tax measure.
Commissioner Jeff Gow asked Parks and Recreation Director Tony Mulkey what would happen to the project if the referendum passes. Mulkey said the city is still evaluating the potential impact, but that the replacement would likely no longer be scheduled based on initial estimates.
Mulkey said losing the boardwalk would mean losing a public amenity, since the current structure is unsafe and would have to be closed off if not replaced. Gow encouraged residents to factor that into their November vote, saying the city stands to lose certain services and amenities if the measure passes.
Hammock Park spans 90 acres and includes five miles of shaded nature trails. Its elevated boardwalk along Cedar Creek carries the 0.7-mile Osprey Loop through a coastal hammock and past native wildlife. A separate boardwalk on the Fern Trail crosses a bayhead swamp.
A city staff review found the Cedar Creek boardwalk has exceeded its useful life and requires urgent attention to remain compliant with safety standards. Staff recommended replacing the existing pressure-treated wood decking with WearDeck composite material, which they said would last longer and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
The approved project includes removing and replacing all decking and handrails, along with inspecting, cleaning and replacing compromised support stringers and poles as needed. Additional stringers will be installed to support the new composite decking.
Causeway repairs continue; bridge replacement design paused
Separately, Pinellas County has completed hurricane-related repairs on the Dunedin Causeway, while design work for a full replacement of its two aging bridges has been put on hold.
The county used Federal Highway Administration funding, administered through the Florida Department of Transportation, to repair damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton. Repairs to the access road, movable bridge fenders and bag walls on both the tide relief and movable bridges are complete.
A separate maintenance project began earlier this month and is expected to continue through approximately winter 2027, involving removal and replacement of the bridges’ steel coatings and damaged structural steel. During construction, boaters should expect limited single-leaf bridge openings, with vertical clearance on the closed span reduced to 6 feet. Drivers should expect intermittent lane closures, with advance notice posted on message boards.
According to a July 13 county Public Works update, plans to replace both the Main Bridge and the Tide Relief Bridge had been finalized but are now on hold. A joint county-FDOT study had concluded both bridges, built in 1963, should be replaced, citing their narrow width, lack of shoulders, and outdated safety standards for withstanding vessel strikes and storm waves.
Under the paused plan, the Main Bridge would be rebuilt as a two-lane, mid-level movable span, and the Tide Relief Bridge as a two-lane, low-level fixed span, each roughly 22.5 feet wider than the current structures. The design included wider travel lanes, shoulders that could serve as bike lanes, a sidewalk, and a multi-use trail connecting to the Pinellas Trail. Temporary bridges would have been built to maintain traffic during construction.
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