Tice fishing pier rebuild underway nearly four years after Hurricane Ian

Construction is underway to rebuild the Royal Palm Park fishing pier in Tice, nearly four years after Hurricane Ian destroyed the popular fishing spot in 2022. The sound of construction equipment fills the air as crews work in the water and cranes install new pilings for the pier. "I think we're happy by the noise. To knock those pilings into the ground is pretty good. It almost shakes the ground here," said Kevin Grein, a Tice resident. For many residents, the project has been long-awaited. "I think it's amazing. I just saw that they were doing the pier downtown, and I thought, well, they'll never get to this," Grein said. The destruction caused by Hurricane Ian remains a vivid memory for locals. "It was terrible. It took down the entire public pier as well as our pier. And our boat lift, destroyed everything," said Jill Flaugher, a Tice resident. "Well, it tore everything up around here," said Larry Uland, another Tice resident. The pier reconstruction is part of a $3.8 million multi-project initiative funded by FEMA disaster relief and the Florida Department of Emergency Management appropriations program. However, not all residents are excited about the project. "We thought it was great having a park over there but soon found out it was used more by people who wanted to get away and do drugs," Flaugher said. "I just—it'd be nice to have it back," Uland said. Grein shared his thoughts on the pier’s return. "That's one of the things we talked about is there will be a lot more kids with the fishing poles walking the street, but that's good," he said. The pier is expected to be completed by November, giving residents a chance to enjoy the waterfront once again. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.