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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 September 17 to October 15, 2024. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
“We have a unique opportunity to build community resilience to coastal storms, funding levels of this magnitude are rare” said Gordie Wilson, Superintendent of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. “This plan will evaluate options for replacing critical centuries-old infrastructure that is failing. Strengthening our seawall will ensure the safety of visitors to our park and our City, while maintaining the cultural integrity of the oldest masonry fortification in the Continental United States.”
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 September 17, 2024, the public can view a project newsletter with information about the project and alternative actions and submit written 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:
Mailed comments must be postmarked by October 15, 2024.Attn: Superintendent Gordie Wilson
Raise and Rehabilitate Seawall Project
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
1 South Castillo Drive
St Augustine, FL 32084
On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the National Park Service will host a public meeting to provide more details about this project. The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. and be held at Renaissance St. Augustine – Historic Downtown Hotel, located at 6 West Castillo in downtown St. Augustine. This hotel is located across from the City Parking Facility for easy parking options.
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, the NPS will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) prior to final design to evaluate the likely environmental consequences resulting from a proposed action. The EA is expected to be released in Winter 2024. The public is encouraged to read the newsletter and provide any comments or concerns about the proposed project.
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 the rich history, please visit our History & Culture page.
Last updated: August 15, 2024