The Three Corners Vero Beach redevelopment has started with a new sailing center for the YSF Community Sailing Center. The Three Corners Riverfront project is still progressing, but the new sailing center could be where the project gets a jumpstart.
The Vero Beach mayor, John Cotugno, is enthusiastic about the new Sailing Center. The mayor stated that it was a big win for the children of Indian River County. The sailing center is an exciting start for the impending Three Corners project in Vero Beach.
All About YSF Community Sailing Center
The YSF Community Sailing Vero Beach provides educational, recreational, and competitive sailing programs for all ages. Since its founding in 2009, the community sailing club has catered to many Treasure Coast residents. When the sailing Center initially opened, the organization offered free sailing instruction to children in Indian River County. However, the community has grown since then, becoming a vibrant sailing community for all ages.
The Youth Sailing Center caters to a diverse community of kids in Indian River County. It serves at least 400 children each year, 45 percent of whom are from underserved homes, 27 percent of whom are minorities, and around 17 percent of whom are from special needs communities. Thousands of children and adults have used YSF Community Sailing to learn how to sail.
The Youth Sailing Center offers many free programs and eliminates the cultural and financial barriers to sailing. The YSF Community Sailing Vero Beach is a nonprofit organization operating on the generosity of locals and businesses who are happy to support the cause.
The Sailing Center’s $4.5 Million Agreement
So far, the YSF Community Sailing Center’s Board of Directors has agreed to sign a $4.5 million contract with Proctor Construction. The construction company has a proven track record of development in Vero Beach and on the Treasure Coast. Proctor Construction has worked extensively with the Sailing Center, providing pro bono pre-construction services for the last year and a half.
Proctor Construction plans to build a new sailing center that will last at least a century and withstand hurricanes. The new community sailing center will include a two-story, colonial-style 10,000-square-foot center with spaces for instruction, boats, offices, and more. The Center will also have an outdoor classroom, recreational and picnic pavilions, dinghy launch ramps, and floating docks.
The Center will continue to offer junior and adult sailing programs and sailing for people with special needs. Boat rentals and paddle sports will also continue to be part of YSF Community Sailing Center’s repertoire.
The new sailing center will be named the Pat Harris Community Sailing Center. The Center is named for the former Board Chair, Pat Harris, who passed in March 2023. Pat was chairman of the board for eight years. He helped the organization grow, taught many people to sail, and touched the lives of hundreds of sailors. The board of directors agreed shortly after Pat’s passing to honor his memory by naming the Center Pat Harris.
The Charlie & Chris Pope Marine Recreational Park
In 2023, the Sailing Center renamed the park surrounding the planned community sailing center. It’s now the Charlie and Chris Pope Marine Recreational Park. The board felt it necessary to name the park in honor of the Youth Sailing Foundation’s founders.
The area surrounding the sailing center occupies three acres of the Three Corners property. The site already has a floating dock, beach launch ramps, and boat storage tie-downs. It’s a picturesque setting with 500 feet of waterfront. The City of Vero Beach provides the land under a long-term lease.
What this Means for The Three Corners Vero Beach Development
The YSF Community Sailing Vero Beach envisioned a brand new community sailing center and marine recreation park, and the Three Corners project will bring that dream to fruition. The sailing center is the beginning of the tremendous changes that the Three Corners Project brings to Vero Beach.
The City of Vero Beach has received many proposals for redeveloping the Big Blue power plant and is currently reviewing two new proposals that will transform Three Corners.
Many proposals for Three Corners feature a mix of park, commercial, recreational, and hospitality facilities. Two proposals that the City is currently considering include the options of transforming the Vero Beach power plant into a space called Big Blue at Three Corners, which will consist of a central community park and lively waterfront village that has a hotel, public green space, waterfront village with a boutique grocery store, food market, restaurant, shopping, marina, and fishing pier. The proposal also has plans for a children’s wonder Museum of Science, health, and Technology. Big Blue would be transformed into a mixed-use facility.
A second proposal would transform the property into a hotel, shopping center, pavilion, and market space that blends nature, recreation, and entertainment. The City wants the vacant 38-acre waterfront property to be transformed into a unique destination that will please locals while increasing tourism to Vero Beach.
The City has multiple meetings ahead that will determine the future of Three Corners. On March 4th, the selection committee will rank proposals. On March 24th, the selection committee will conduct interviews and discuss the rankings post-interview. The following month, the City will make a final decision on Three Corners after a second interview round with the top two proposals. Interviews will not be available to the public.
Adding Value to Vero Beach Residents & Visitors
YSF Community Sailing Vero Beach is a beacon in the community and deserves the new Center. The brand-new Center will be a hub for learning about sailing and creating a community where everyone is welcome. The new sailing center is a dream come true for the YSF Community board and offers an incredible space for Vero Beach residents. The Center will be a fantastic addition to Vero Beach and will serve the children of Indian River County and generations to come.
The Pat Harris Community Sailing Center will break ground in May this year and be completed in 2026. It will be located near the western portion of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge.