Deadline for Ft. Pickens Construction 4/10/09

Fort Pickens may re-open by Memorial Day
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News scott@gulfbreezenews.com

After a five-year clean-up project, Gulf Island National Seashore officials are hopeful that Fort Pickens will re-open to the public by Memorial Day, May 25.

"At this point, we hope to have it open by Memorial Day, but there's no gaurantee," said Steamer Lawhead, Gulf Island Natioanl Seashore Florida District Interpreter. "It could, however, be a few days before or a few days after."

Portions of Fort Pickens Road were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in the summer of 2004 and the project was halted before completion as a result of Tropical Storm Arlene, Hurricane Cindy, and Hurricane Dennis in 2005, all of which resulted in damage to the newly completed roadwork.

"Rebuilding the road has certainly been the biggest challenge to reopening the park," Lawhead explained.

The Fort Pickens area of the National Seashore, which consists of the westernmost 7-miles of Santa Rosa Island, offers visitors, in addition to the historical fort, designated camping and picnic areas.

"Loop A" of the campground has already reopened to tent camping. The rest of the campground, however, remains closed. Bathrooms and water fountains are available in the fort area and at Battery Worth.

Visitors to the Fort Pickens Area should be aware that during construction, the roadway and construction corridor will be closed to the public. This corridor will include the paved area westward from the entrance to the Ranger Station.

Lawhead hinted that those who haven't been to the fort since it closed will see a changed landscape. "They'll probably notice that the island is a lot flatter, and a lot of the trees in the campground have died and are gone."

For more information, call (850) 934-2600.

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