County plans improvements for Fort Hamer Park

EAST COUNTY — Manatee County officials are moving forward with plans to improve Fort Hamer Park, home of the county’s rowing facilities and the future connection point for the Fort Hamer Bridge.

County officials met with community members Aug. 1, at Williams Elementary School to discuss the county’s proposed improvements, which include installing a fort- or other–themed playground; rebuilding the boat ramp and docks; constructing a kayak storage facility for the public; installing a paver plaza-style area between the rowing building and the restroom pavilion; and adding boat trailer parking, among other items.

“It’s a nice park already, but now we’re looking at enhancing the parking lot, making delineated boat parking and adding some car parking,” said Darin Cushing of Manatee County’s property management department.

Residents offered suggestions for the park and raised a few concerns for the county to address, including the use of four-wheelers on the property, but overall they seemed enthusiastic about the proposal.

“I think it’s going to be a great improvement,” the county’s youth rowing coach, Trish Jackson, said of the plans. “Now, it’s going to be more of a community facility. It’s going to open it up more (to the public).”

Construction Services Manager Tom Yarger declined to say when the county expects to break ground on the improvements, noting many of the changes, including the dock improvements, are tied up in permitting.

“In a perfect world, we’d like to be fully funded and under construction now,” Yarger said. “It’s a process.”

Improvements, he said, may be made all at the same time, or as funding and permitting allow.

Manatee County celebrated the opening of its rowing training facility at Fort Hamer Park, which includes a boathouse, restrooms, floating docks and other amenities, in January.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].