City: Harbor Walk mostly open; piers and docks will need multi-year repairs

Business owners asking about the Harbor Walk were told July 7 that the pedestrian route is largely open but that several waterfront elements need more extensive repair before full restoration.

Ryan Derosiers, owner of Downtown Cava and a lifelong Punta Gorda resident, asked if there was a timeline for reopening and repairs. City staff said that the Harbor Walk can be traversed end-to-end now except for a location that requires stairs down from U.S. 41 southbound. The staff member added the city will install temporary fencing around the former waterfront hotel site and provide a temporary route to keep the walk contiguous while repairs proceed.

City staff said railings along sections of the Harbor Walk must be custom designed and reinforced because prior railings failed under storm surge, and that the piers, docks and bridges will require structural evaluation and subsequent contracting for repairs. “When you're looking at something like a fishing pier, you're probably looking at 2 to 3 years on those repairs,” a staff member told the workshop.

The city encouraged merchants and volunteer groups to continue to support downtown activation while the repairs proceed and said it will publish details as repair designs and contractor schedules are finalized.