New Waterfront Park Pavilion and Parking Improvements Open with $630,000 in F.I.N.D. Grant Funding

A new place to gather, more room to park, and easier access to the waterfront are now part of the experience at Palm Coast’s Waterfront Park. The City celebrated the opening of the new pavilion and expanded parking area on October 23, following a project made possible in large part by a nearly $630,000 investment from the Florida Inland Navigation District (F.I.N.D.).

F.I.N.D. contributed $629,379.00 toward the project’s total construction cost of $1,406,464.98, covering approximately 45% of the cost. The City funded the remaining $777,085.98 through its Recreation Impact Fee Fund.

“We’re fortunate to have partners like F.I.N.D. who recognize the value of our waterfront and help us make improvements that benefit the community,” said City Manager Mike McGlothlin. “This project gives residents and visitors more room to park, a place to gather under the pavilion, and even better access to enjoy everything Waterfront Park has to offer. We appreciate F.I.N.D.’s investment in Palm Coast.”

Construction took about a year and brought several new amenities to the park. The 3,600-square-foot pavilion provides covered space and picnic tables for families and groups to enjoy. Designed with Florida’s weather in mind, the pavilion was built to withstand wind speeds of up to 135 mph. Its pressure-treated southern yellow pine construction was selected with durability and long-term maintenance in mind. The project also added 100 parking spaces across approximately 1.29 acres and improved pedestrian access throughout the park, including connections to the kayak launch.

Care was taken to preserve the park’s natural surroundings during construction. The parking layout was designed to avoid the four largest existing grandfather oaks in the construction area. While some tree removal was necessary, the project included planting 16 live oaks, 10 slash pines, and 24 cabbage palms, along with additional landscaping and ground cover. These efforts helped retain as much of the existing ecosystem as possible while accommodating additional parking.

F.I.N.D. Commissioner Randy Stapleford joined City officials for Friday’s ribbon cutting, marking the completion of a project made possible through the partnership between the district and the City.

“This is a beautiful pavilion and beautiful park. For those who know about FIND, we are a taxing authority, and we use the money for waterway assist projects, of which this project is one of many that we’ve done here in Palm Coast and Flagler County,” said FIND Commissioner Stapleford. “FIND’s total economic benefit to Flagler County is now $335 million. This will be the sixth grant given to the City of Palm Coast for Waterfront Park, which now totals $1,415,782 for this facility.”

Waterfront Park has long been a favorite spot for residents to get outdoors and enjoy the Intracoastal Waterway. Visitors can walk or bike the trails, fish or launch a kayak, spend time in the Children’s Memorial Garden, or simply take in the views. The park also hosts community events throughout the year, including Pedal in the Park, Celebrate Trails Day, and the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade.

The new parking area comes just in time for the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m., when residents and visitors will gather along the waterfront to enjoy one of the community’s holiday traditions.

Waterfront Park’s place in the community was recognized in 2024 when it was named the winner of the Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award by the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association.

The City thanks F.I.N.D. for its significant investment, American Civil Construction for its work on the project, and the City staff who helped bring these improvements to life.

To learn more about Waterfront Park, visit www.palmcoast.gov/waterfront-park 

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