Flagler gets a new beachfront park: Bay Drive Park to open July 2

Palm Coast Observer
News

Flagler County on Thursday, July 2, will open Bay Drive Park with a social distanced ribbon-cutting ceremony to showcase its newest gem — which includes an observation deck with binoculars (one ADA accessible), a walking trail, educational signage, elaborate dune walkovers, as well as a bocce ball court and a horseshoe pit.

“This is a beautiful park,” said County Engineer Faith Alkhatib. “It’s been a long time coming for our residents in Flagler County. The project team did a fabulous job.”

Those familiar with the Hammock’s storied history know the area of Bay Drive at its terminus at the ocean was known as either “Main Street Beach” or “Deauville Beach.” The original Bay Drive Park property dates back to the 1980s and 1990s when the County Commission required developers to give Flagler County park property with public beach access before it would allow for the proposed private development of Sea Colony.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 10 a.m. at the park, which is located at the end of Bay Drive off of State Road A1A in the Hammock.

Total constructed improvements include:

7-acre stormwater pond, which serves as both a park amenity as well as the heart of an overall stormwater improvement project to help alleviate drainage and flooding problems in the Marineland Acres residential area.
Installation of stormwater pipes, box culvert and stormwater structures
Water and sewer improvements
Entry drive and parking area
Sidewalk along Bay Drive connecting the park site to the sidewalk along State Road A1A
Two-story building that includes restroom facilities, water fountain and showers on the first level and an observation deck on the upper level
The upper level deck includes three telescopes (one of which is ADA accessible) for ocean viewing Educational signage has been installed both along the walking trail and on the upper level deck to highlight Right Whales and their migration and describing the native vegetation and wildlife
A beach dune walkover boardwalk provides access to the beach, as well as provide ADA access to the upper deck
Recreational elements: a bocce ball court and a horseshoe pit

Besides Alkhatib’s staff – Amy Stroger and Jerry Farley – the project team included: Crawford Murphy & Tilly, engineer of record; RLA Castle Bay Design Studio, boardwalk design; DJ Design, building architect; Cline Construction, site work contractor; and, Saboungi Construction, building contractor.

“I want to give my special to the homeowner’s association and its president, George Guillano, and to the residents of Sea Colony and other neighboring residents,” Alkhatib said. “Their patience, cooperation, and coordination throughout the construction of this project has been amazing.”