Sanibel pier restoration brings hope to community

SANIBEL, Fla. —

The Sanibel fishing pier at Lighthouse Beach Park is set to be restored after Lee County commissioners approved $2.1 million in funding, bringing hope to the community and tourists who cherish the spot.

Sanibel resident Richard Birney, a long-time fisherman, expressed his excitement about the restoration. "And today we're celebrating. And we finally got the money to, to be able to rebuild a really robust and resilient pier," Birney said.

He noted the frustration of seeing the pier in disrepair, emphasizing its importance to the community and tourists. "It was just frustrating to walk down here and see the pier in the shape that it's in. When we knew it meant so much to the community and in particularly to our tourists, which is one of the core elements of our business here," he said.

Visitor Mark Burchenough shared his enthusiasm for the pier's restoration. "Oh, ecstatic. I mean, we love fishing. My family's all here. We're all fishing right now. It'll be a great asset for us to use and enjoy as long as and as well as everyone else," Burchenough said.

The Sanibel fishing pier isn't just a place to make a big catch; it's a place to watch sunsets and enjoy the beautiful view. Years later, money is on the way to fix the pier and get people fishing there again.

Lee County commissioners have committed funds to fix up the pier, and the city looks forward to bringing back this tourist attraction to the island and fixing up another reminder from Hurricane Ian.

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