Fort Desoto North Beach will reopen on Monday after months of closure due to hurricane damage. This marks the reopening of the last section of Fort Desoto Park, the largest park in the Pinellas County system, covering 1,136 acres. Visitors can now access the beach, which has been closed since last year's hurricane, according to ABC Action News.
A team has been working to clear debris from the beach, which was buried under four to five feet of sand. "What happened is it then covered up all of that debris with about 4 to 5 feet of sand," said Milton, as reported by FOX 13 News.
Fort De Soto Park has been undergoing extensive repairs after significant damage. According to Park Manager David Harshbarger, "There's not a main structure at the park that hasn't been affected—that's anything from picnic tables to electrical systems, wastewater systems—really everything has been affected." The park experienced financial losses of about $70,000 a week while the campground was closed during the peak holiday season. The boat ramp reopened in November, but areas such as the East Loop and parts of the historic seawall are still closed for repairs. The restoration of North Beach is a major step in the recovery process, as stated by WTSP.
