Deltona unveils plan to restore Lakeshore Boat Ramp; officials target October 2026 completion

Deltona city officials outlined a phased plan on Aug. 18 to restore the city’s Lakeshore Boat Ramp, a project staff said will require permitting with state and regional agencies and could reach final closeout in October 2026. Jim Parrish, deputy utility director, introduced the update and said staff and consultants have been meeting with the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as part of the permitting and design process. “Tonight, I wanted to give an update for our restoration efforts for the Lakeshore Boat Ramp,” Parrish said.

The restoration approach presented by Brad Blaise of Mead & Hunt calls for removal of the outer sheet piling, placement of engineered backfill to ballast artesian conditions, retention of the deep inner sheet piling, a new concrete cap to match existing wall elevations, excavation and revegetation behind the outer piling, reinstatement of floating docks and rehabilitation of the ramp using precast mats. Blaise summarized the scope: “What we’re proposing to do is … fill with engineered backfill material … construct a new concrete cap … and then rehabilitate the boat ramp” with precast sections.

City staff described a tentative schedule that would let design and permit submittals proceed this fall, bid the work in late winter and begin construction in March, with a roughly seven- to eight-month construction window that makes October 2026 a realistic target for final closeout. Commissioner Santiago asked directly, “If everything goes well, we’re looking at October 2026 before it’s fully restored. Is that correct?” Parrish answered yes and described an expedited permitting and bidding sequence that staff expects to run partly in parallel.

Commissioners and staff discussed several practical issues likely to affect cost and schedule. Vice Mayor Harriot asked whether the ramp could be widened to two lanes; Blaise and Glenn Whitcomb, public works director, said widening is not part of the current restoration because existing retaining walls limit width and rebuilding the opposite seawall would substantially expand scope and cost. Whitcomb said the city is “looking at” a later phase that could add capacity, but the immediate goal is to restore public access as quickly as possible.

Accessibility also drew questions. Commissioner Lully asked whether restored features would be ADA-compliant. Staff said concrete sidewalks and landward features will meet accessibility standards where feasible, but the hinge between a fixed concrete approach and floating docks introduces variable slopes that require more investigation. Parrish said staff will report back with specific ADA details for the design.

Agency approvals and storm readiness are central to timing. Staff said the district and DEP want a complete plan before field meetings and formal permit applications. The presenters described a 30-day typical review window for agency comments and said the contractor will be required to submit a hurricane preparedness plan and secure materials and the site when a storm threat is imminent. “We will require a hurricane preparedness plan with the initial submittals,” Parrish said, and the city will inspect and enforce contractor obligations during storms.

Staff also identified temporary alternatives for boaters while Lakeshore is closed: Mariners Cove about one mile away, Lake Monroe Park about 7.7 miles away, and Lake Monroe Wayside Park on the Seminole County side at about 7.5 miles. Commissioners representing the district asked that staff resume resident briefings and outreach to condo associations before major construction and that notices about road closures and detours be provided once design plans are complete.

No formal action or vote was taken; staff said they will return with the design, permit applications and a refined schedule. Next steps: complete the engineered backfill design, obtain buy-off from St. Johns River Water Management District and DEP, advertise for bids, and require a contractor hurricane-preparedness plan during construction.