Tarpon Street Pier in Fort Myers reopens with upgrades after Hurricane Ian

FORT MYERS, Fla.--Fort Myers is celebrating a significant milestone Monday as the beloved Tarpon Street Pier reopens after being devastated by Hurricane Ian more than three years ago.

The pier, located off Palm Beach Boulevard on Riverside Drive, was completely washed away during the storm.

City leaders are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the reopening of the pier. The event will take place at the Riverside Community Center at 1 p.m., officially opening the pier for public enjoyment.

The new Tarpon Street Pier has been constructed using composite wood and plastic, materials chosen for their durability and lower maintenance costs. It has also been built slightly higher than before to better withstand potential storm surges.

Elgin Hicks, the City of Fort Myers Parks and Recreation Director, emphasized the importance of the pier to the community's quality of life.

"We wanted to really benefit the people who live there that went on walks in the morning to see the sun rise, who went on walks in the evening to see the sun set and go for picnics. The pier is also for the kids that when school's out can go out there and just ride their bikes to go fishing. That's how important it is," said Hicks.

Noe Avalos, who traveled from Immokalee to visit the pier, shared his excitement about the fishing opportunities it offers.

"I've heard stories that there's plenty of fish here, so I believe everybody's gonna come here to do some fishing. There's not a lot of places here after the storm, so I think it's gonna be real full here soon," said Avalos.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony also includes the nearby Riverside Pier, adding to the excitement and celebration for the Fort Myers community.