- Who: City of Vero Beach, Ferreira Construction, Indian River Community Foundation
- What: Humiston boardwalk rebuild is about $460,000 short of full funding
- Where: Humiston Park, Vero Beach
The rebuild of the Humiston Beach boardwalk in Vero Beach is about $460,000 short of full funding, even though construction is still set to start Nov. 1. City Public Works Director Matthew Mitts says the total project cost is $2,975,141, while the city has $2,515,953 in hand or pledged.
The gap opened after bids came in well below early estimates. When the city expected a price tag of up to $5 million, the low bid looked like good news. Several costs sat outside that bid, and they are now in the budget.
Where the Extra Money Went
The city awarded the job in August to Ferreira Construction of Hobe Sound, the low bidder among seven companies, at $1,767,109. According to Mitts, the following costs are not part of that contract:
- About $125,000 the city already spent on demolition of most of the old boardwalk after hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022, plus temporary repairs to the remaining pavilion and beach access.
- $280,625 for permitting and design by Kimley-Horne and Associates.
- $337,577 for construction phase services, including sea turtle nesting monitoring and engineering inspections by the same firm.
- About $111,000 in shipping for the concrete pilings.
- A $353,422 contingency, roughly 20 percent of the construction contract, for overruns or surprises.
Mitts said storm damage is not a budget line item. The city charges it to a hurricane account, pays from reserves, then seeks reimbursement from FEMA. If unanticipated costs come in below the contingency, the budget will be adjusted, he said. Council member John Carroll said the contingency is a safeguard because earlier structures at the site could leave pipes, old seawall sections or other debris underground.
The pilings themselves are a donation. Clayton Sembler, owner of CDS Manufacturing, gave the prestressed concrete pilings, valued at $850,000.
What the City Has Collected So Far
The city put $1 million toward the boardwalk in its five-year capital improvement plan, and Indian River County committed $400,000. FEMA awarded $460,230 for damage from Ian and Nicole, and the state added $350,000 in its 2025-2026 budget.
A second state award did not come through. The city had been on track for another $400,000 in the 2026-2027 state budget, but Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it shortly before signing the budget on June 29. Mitts said he knows of no other grants or funding sources.
A private campaign managed by the Indian River Community Foundation has collected $145,713 in cash and $160,000 in pledges. Carroll formed an ad-hoc citizen committee this summer to revive fundraising. It is now aiming for $500,000 to close the gap and recognize donors. Carroll said the council knew the earlier spending had occurred and expected to be repaid.
How to Give and What Comes Next
The committee has set a tiered recognition program for donors:
- $1,100: a name engraved on one of 236 available Trex deck planks.
- $10,000: an engraved brass plaque on one of 21 new benches. Another 32 salvaged benches will return with their original donor plaques.
- $25,000: recognition on one of two plaques at each of the four beach access dune crossovers.
- $100,000: naming rights to the 22-foot by 12-foot north pavilion.
- $250,000: naming rights to the 42-foot by 12-foot south pavilion.
The committee also plans a founders plaque at the main entrance and will meet with Sembler about how to recognize his gift. Carroll said ideas under consideration include newspaper ads, a direct mail flier, posters, social media marketing, a fundraising sign at Humiston Park, and a ground-breaking event with music and food that would double as a fundraiser.
Construction is expected to begin once sea turtle nesting season ends on Nov. 1 and finish before nesting season returns in March, Mitts said. The beach and parts of the park may close temporarily for safety at times. Readers can donate at rebuildhumiston.org or by calling 772-492-1407. The Community Foundation will handle the paperwork needed for tax purposes. For more on the storms that damaged the structure, see the Treasure Coast hurricanes page.
