As Naples prepares to welcome another season, we are witnessing the remarkable combination of thoughtful design, engineering excellence, and sophisticated craftsmanship taking shape along our shoreline through the reconstruction of our beloved Naples Pier.
One of my favorite rituals is to wake up each morning with a warm cup of coffee and a few peaceful moments watching the Naples Pier Webcam. It’s something I’ve done for as long as the camera has been live. Each morning, I find myself looking forward to seeing the progress, knowing that every new piling and every new section brings us one step closer to welcoming our community back to this treasured landmark.
For generations, the Naples Pier has stood as a symbol of our city’s history, resilience, and connection to the Gulf. Since Hurricane Ian damaged the structure in 2022, residents and visitors alike have looked forward to the day when this beloved landmark can once again serve as a gathering place for fishing, sightseeing, sunset viewing, and community celebrations.
Today, I am pleased to share that meaningful progress continues to be made. The City remains committed to rebuilding a pier that honors its historic character while incorporating modern engineering and resilience measures designed to withstand future storms. Throughout the planning and design process, City staff, engineers, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders have worked diligently to ensure that the new pier reflects the values and expectations of Naples residents.
Since breaking ground in January, work has advanced steadily and safely, transforming years of planning into visible progress. The demolition of the old pier has been completed, making way for a new structure that will honor the pier’s legacy while incorporating modern engineering and resilience standards.
Throughout the project, the City and our partners have remained committed to environmental stewardship. Prior to demolition, coral species attached to the old pier were carefully relocated to the Florida Coral Reef Research Facility at Mote Marine Laboratory, where they will be preserved and studied. Additionally, nearly 300 tons of concrete pilings from the former pier have been repurposed at Wasmer Reef, creating new marine habitat beneath the Gulf waters. Almost all of the remaining old concrete pilings were sent to be reused as recycled concrete aggregate.
Construction activities have now shifted toward building the future pier. All test piles have been installed, and engineers have confirmed the foundation design for the new structure. Crews have installed 150 of the 193 permanent pilings, and debris from previous generations of piers has been removed from the seabed.
Concrete pours are well underway. Crews have just completed the concrete pour for the mid-pavilion area, bringing us to the halfway point for the new Pier. We expect the first IPE wood decking to be installed before Thanksgiving, weather permitting.
This project has also presented opportunities to preserve our history. During demolition, original pilings from the 1888 pier were identified and authenticated through carbon dating. The City is now working with preservation experts to ensure these historic artifacts are protected for future generations.
The Naples Pier has always been more than a structure; it is a symbol of our community’s resilience, heritage, and connection to the Gulf. Every pile driven, every piece of debris removed, and every milestone reached brings us closer to restoring this treasured landmark.
Projects of this magnitude are only possible because of the talented professionals working behind the scenes every day. I want to recognize Assistant City Manager Bruce Selfon, who has served as the City’s project manager, providing leadership and oversight throughout this complex effort. City Manager Gary Young visits the site every week to help coordinate the City team’s support for the project.
Alongside Bruce is an outstanding team of partners whose expertise is helping turn this vision into reality. Shoreline Foundation Inc. is leading the marine construction; MHK Architecture designed a pier that honors Naples’ rich history while looking toward the future; and Turrell, Hall and Associates is providing the engineering expertise necessary to construct a resilient, long-lasting landmark. Through our longstanding partnership with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, we have also worked to protect the pelicans and other wildlife that call the Pier and its surrounding waters home. Each partner’s commitment, collaboration, and problem-solving have been instrumental in keeping this important project moving forward, and our community will benefit from their work for decades to come.
This season of progress reminds us that rebuilding is not simply about replacing what was lost. It is about creating something stronger, preserving our history, protecting our environment, and investing in the future of Naples for generations to come.
God bless the City of Naples,
Teresa Lee Heitmann, Mayor
