020226 RoundIslandBoatRamp JoshuaKodis 001 — PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

The popular boat ramp at Round Island Park was shut down on Feb. 3 and will remain out of service until March 3 while contractors repair cracked concrete on the ramp and failing walkways next to it, county officials said.

A site visit found sections of concrete collapsing and metal seawalls supporting walkways rusted through.

While it looks bad now, the county has gotten its money’s worth from the facility. This is the first major repair required since the boat ramp was installed on the Indian River Lagoon in 1992, according to Wendy Swindell, Indian River County’s assistant director of parks and conservation.

The concrete ramps and walkways have been undermined and have settled over the years, making them unsafe, she said.

“Public safety and accessibility for our residents is always our top priority,” said Beth Powell, director of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for the county. “We are pleased to provide improved access for one of our most popular destinations.”

The dual ramp allows two boats to be launched at the same time, and it is a favorite of island boaters because of its proximity to the Fort Pierce Inlet, Swindell said.

The cost of the repairs is a modest $35,300 and will come from the Parks Operational Budget in the General Fund, she said. Summerlin’s Marine Construction of Fort Pierce is the contractor.
The Round Island ramp is the only county-owned boat ramp on the barrier island.

During repairs, the county is directing boaters to the Oslo Road Boat Ramp, at the end of 9th Street SE on mainland shore, and the Wabasso Causeway Boat Ramp at 3105 Wabasso Bridge Road.

But both ramps are a half-hour drive from Round Island and only skiffs or other small boats can be launched at the Oslo ramp.

Better alternatives are the Riverside Park and MacWilliam Park boat ramps in Vero Beach, 15 minutes north – although they are 8 miles further from ocean access at the Fort Pierce Inlet – and the Stan Blum Boat Ramp, 6 miles south of the park in St. Lucie County, right on the inlet.

Round Island Park – which is huge, with 82.8 acres stretching from the river to the ocean – was completed in 1992 for the now astonishingly cheap price of $260,000.

The entire park other than the boat ramp remains open, including the playground, pavilion with barbecue grills and picnic tables, canoe and kayak launch, restrooms, fishing pier, and 400-foot boardwalk to the island, observation tower and walking trails.

When not closed for repairs, all county-owned boat ramps are open 24 hours, 365 days a year, except for the boat ramp at Donald McDonald Campground in Roseland, which is locked at night.