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ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The National Park Service (NPS) is planning a multimillion- dollar project to raise and rehabilitate the failing seawalls at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Funded by the 2023 Disaster Supplement bill, this project aims to repair damage from storms and enhance resiliency to create an optimal visitor experience and improve safety while minimizing potential impacts on natural and cultural resources. The NPS is inviting public comment on this project from June 9 to July 9, 2025.
“We continue to be excited about this project and look forward to increasing resiliency from storm events and flooding to the Fort and St. Augustine,” said Gordie Wilson, Superintendent of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. “This project will replace critical centuries-old infrastructure in a thoughtful and sensitive way. The priority is historic preservation and flooding protection of the Fort and the surrounding communities.”
The current conditions of the existing seawall sections range from fair to poor condition. By raising and repairing the seawalls, this project aims to not only protect the historic and cultural resources of the park, but also aid in flood prevention and resiliency for the City of St. Augustine and the historic downtown.
Starting on June 9, 2025, the public can review and comment on the Environmental Assessment that includes three alternatives and analyzes impacts to resources. The public can provide comments on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website.
Although submitting comments through the project website is preferred, comments may also be mailed to:
Attn: Superintendent Gordie Wilson
Raise and Rehabilitate Seawall Project
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
1 South Castillo Drive
St Augustine, FL 32084
Mailed comments must be postmarked by July 9, 2025.
The National Park Service (NPS) receives disaster supplement funding from Congress to help with the costs of natural disasters. In 2023, the omnibus funding bill included $1.5 billion in supplemental disaster funding for the NPS to help parks affected by recent natural disasters. The funding is intended to cover the costs of repairing and rebuilding ecosystems, infrastructure, and historically significant structures. It also aims to provide resiliency funds to better protect national park sites and communities, and to ensure that national parks are built to withstand future storms.
Castillo de San Marcos, a unit of the National Park Service, has stood for more than 350 years, serving as a cornerstone of the St. Augustine community. The fort offers a glimpse into the early history of our nation. Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections. To learn more about our rich history, visit our History & Culture page.
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Last updated: June 6, 2025