PALM COAST, Fla. — A new pavilion and 100 additional parking spaces are now open at Palm Coast’s Waterfront Park following a roughly yearlong construction project.
City officials celebrated the improvements Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project also improved pedestrian access, including connections to the park’s kayak launch.
The upgrades at Waterfront Park, which sits along the Intracoastal Waterway, cost about $1.4 million.
Grant covered nearly half the construction cost
The Florida Inland Navigation District contributed $629,379, covering about 45% of construction costs. Palm Coast paid the remaining $777,086 through its Recreation Impact Fee Fund.
The new 3,600-square-foot pavilion includes picnic tables and covered gathering space. City officials said it was designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 135 mph.
“This project gives residents and visitors more room to park, a place to gather under the pavilion, and even better access to enjoy everything Waterfront Park has to offer,” City Manager Mike McGlothlin said.
Parking expansion preserved large oaks
The new parking area covers approximately 1.29 acres. According to the city, its layout avoided the four largest existing grandfather oaks in the construction area.
Some trees were removed, but the project included planting 16 live oaks, 10 slash pines and 24 cabbage palms, along with additional landscaping.
Waterfront Park offers walking and biking trails, fishing, a kayak launch and access to the Children’s Memorial Garden. It won the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award in 2024.
The parking expansion opens ahead of the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade, scheduled for Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
The park is at 150 Waterfront Park Road. Additional visitor information is available on the city’s park webpage.
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