Fishing Pier Rebuild Project
Project Location: 5819 Driftwood Pkwy, Cape Coral
Description: The Cape Coral Fishing Pier at Yacht Club Community Park has long been one of the City’s most recognizable waterfront amenities. Following Hurricane Ian in September 2022, the pier suffered severe damage, and the City began evaluating options for repair, resiliency, permitting, and eventual reconstruction as part of the broader Yacht Club redevelopment effort.
The City’s goal is to rebuild a fishing pier that better meets current design, safety, and environmental standards while preserving the pier’s value as a public gathering place and waterfront destination. Since the storm, the project has involved coordination with City Council, design professionals, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The fishing pier is being advanced separately from the larger Yacht Club Community Park project, which includes marine improvements, shoreline work, and other site redevelopment components, due to permitting. As of January 2026, fishing pier design plans were 100% complete pending comments from environmental and USACOE reviews, and earlier City updates noted that federal permitting was required for reconstruction.
Current timeline of the project:
- June 26, 2026 – Turrell, Hall & Associates, Inc. responded to FEMA questions regarding USFWS and NMFS consultation letters.
- May 16, 2026 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) Project Manager reported ongoing coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding potential sawfish impacts; however, NMFS had not yet initiated its review. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested additional information regarding the USACE permit and NMFS coordination. USACE subsequently initiated its permit review and issued a Request for Additional Information (RAI). Turrell, Hall & Associates, Inc. (THA) is preparing the RAI responses in coordination with City staff, including development of a Pier Operations Plan. THA also confirmed with the City that no documented sea turtle nests have been identified at YC Beach. Responses to the RAI, received on May 16, 2026, are currently being prepared.
- March 11, 2026 – City Council reviewed a broader Yacht Club project update and directed staff to move forward with a phased approach to the redevelopment, prioritizing revenue-generating components while continuing evaluation of project timing and funding.
- January 14, 2026 – The City reported that fishing pier design plans were 100% complete pending any comments from environmental reviews.
- September 2025 – City updates reported that fishing pier design was 90% complete and that a USACOE permit was required for reconstruction.
- May 21, 2025 – Army Corps of Engineers Permit application submitted for review and approval for the Yacht Club Fishing Pier. (Note: The Army Corps permit could not be submitted until the Yacht Club permit had been issued. Submitting the pier permit prior to issuance of the Yacht Club permit could have resulted in the two applications (Yacht Club and pier) being consolidated for review, which would likely have delayed approval of the Yacht Club permit. At that time, the direction was to avoid taking any action that might have delayed issuance of the Yacht Club permit.)
- April 4, 2025 – City received permit approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Permit SAJ-1995-03885 (SP-JPF) for the Marina Improvements.
- March 24, 2025 – Universal Engineering performed geotechnical work, including soil borings, to support the design phase. City updates also noted that fishing pier design was 60% complete and anticipated to be completed in May 2025.
- February 13, 2025 – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued the environmental resource permit for the Yacht Club Community Park renovation project, moving the overall project closer to groundbreaking.
- May 8, 2024 – Council reviewed options after evaluating the damaged pier and chose a full rebuild (Option 2). The project includes new support piles, decking, railings, and a shade structure, all within the existing pier footprint to help streamline permitting.
- April 2, 2024 and May 7, 2024 – Public meetings were held to share details about the Yacht Club redesign and gather public input on the project.
- January 17, 2024 – City Council directed staff to move forward with the Yacht Club final site plan, continuing progress on the larger redevelopment project that includes the future fishing pier.
- November 8, 2023 – During a Committee of the Whole discussion on the Yacht Club project, Council reviewed updated design concepts that included a longer second fishing pier as part of future planning.
- September 2023 – The City submitted an emergency permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for repair of the fishing pier within the existing footprint following hurricane damage.
- September 28, 2022 – Hurricane Ian caused major damage to Yacht Club Community Park, including severe damage to the existing fishing pier and other waterfront facilities.
- April 30, 2021 – City applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Marina Improvements: Permit (SAJ-1995-03885 (SP-JPF)).
Renderings of the New Pier:
