Posted on February 6, 2025
Phipps Ocean Park Beach Renourishment and Dune Construction
December 2024 – March 2025
Project Updates
*January 31, 2025: It’s official! The Phipps Park Beach Renourishment Project has been completed on time and on budget! Demobilization – the process of removing the equipment used in the project – is in its final stages. The remaining sections of pipe and equipment in the northern Phipps Park parking lot will be removed over the next two weeks. The fencing is scheduled to be completely removed during the final cleanup of the area. The north parking lot will remain closed for the next stage of the project, which includes trucking sand for dune placement. The public can freely enjoy our beautiful, renourished beach and pristine shoreline!
We’re grateful that during the placement of 750,000 cubic yards of high-quality sand, there were no safety incidents, and all safety and environmental standards were met. The project has also been completed well before turtle nesting season begins.
Thank you to all of those who have worked so hard on this vital phase of the Town’s Beach Management Plan, and especially to the residents of the Town of Palm Beach. Your cooperation, patience and support throughout this project ensured that the right things were done in the right way to enhance the beauty of our beach and ensure its sustainability.
*January 24, 2025: We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the dredging construction phase of the Phipps Park Beach Renourishment Project! A remarkable 750,000 cubic yards of sand have been carefully placed along the beach, enhancing its beauty and ensuring its sustainability. We’re proud to share that all environmental and safety standards outlined in the project’s requirements and the Town’s Beach Management Plan were met. The sand quality is excellent, making the beach more enjoyable than ever. The project is now in its final phase: demobilization. Crews diligently remove pipes from the shore, followed by heavy machinery (like dozers and trucks), and finally, clear the pipes, buoys, and dredging equipment from the offshore borrow area.
We’re excited to inform you that all beach access points are now fully open, ready for everyone to enjoy the pristine shoreline! The remaining demobilization and tilling efforts will be completed by next week.
Additionally, crews have prepared a stockpile for the upcoming truck-hauling projects to ensure future improvements proceed smoothly.
We deeply appreciate the community’s patience, support, and engagement throughout this project. Despite weather-related delays, we’re delighted to report that the project was completed on schedule and is a tremendous success.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating this milestone—we can’t wait for you to enjoy our revitalized beaches!
*January 16, 2025:
Town of Palm Beach Phipps Park Beach Renourishment Weekly Update
We are excited to share that the beach renourishment project is nearing completion! To date, approximately 650,000 cubic yards of sand have been placed on our beautiful beaches. Crews will continue to work 24/7 as weather permits.
Once the sand placement is complete, our dedicated construction crews will begin dismantling and removing the pipe along the beach. This process will be followed by staging the equipment for removal. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for your involvement and commitment to safety, which has been crucial in keeping the project on track.
Community Safety and Project Timeline
We ask for your continued diligence in adhering to safety measures to ensure the project is completed on schedule. After the equipment has been removed, the final phase of tilling the beach will commence and is expected to be completed within a few days.
Environmental Compliance and Quality
Our engineers are pleased to report that the sand being placed on the beach is currently meeting all environmental permitting and quality standards. This achievement underscores our commitment to preserving our shores for residents, visitors, and wildlife alike.
Access Updates
During the final phases of the project, access to the beach at Phipps Park will be limited. Other public access points remain open but may experience temporary closures due to construction activities. Rest assured, these areas will reopen as soon as it is safe.
A Part of Our Beach Management Plan
This renourishment project is a vital part of the Town’s successful beach management plan, aimed at maintaining safe and beautiful shores for all to enjoy. For more information about our beach management plan, please scroll down to the “About Our Program” dropdown section on this webpage.
We encourage you to stay informed by visiting our website for weekly updates on this and other upcoming projects for 2025. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we work together to enhance our community’s cherished beach environment.
*January 10, 2025: The Phipps Park Beach Renourishment Project is progressing well! This week, operations experienced a temporary pause due to weather conditions and mechanical issues with the dredge. However, repairs are currently underway and are expected to be completed by the end of this week. Crews will continue to work 24/7 as weather permits.
With favorable weather, we anticipate resuming operations over the weekend. If all goes as planned, dredging activities are expected to be completed by the end of next week. Once the sand placement is finished, the team will begin demobilizing the dredge offshore and equipment onshore, a process expected to take 10-12 days. The final step will be the tilling of the beach to ensure a smooth and welcoming shoreline for people and sea turtles.
We’re happy to share that, even with these brief delays, the project remains on schedule. Environmental and engineering reports indicate that the project has been a success so far, paving the way for a rejuvenated beach for everyone to enjoy. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work towards completing this important initiative!
What Does Demobilization in a Beach Renourishment Project Entail?
Demobilization of beach renourishment equipment refers to the process of safely removing and transporting all machinery, materials, and temporary structures used during the beach renourishment project from the site. This includes both offshore and onshore equipment. Here’s what it typically involves:
- Offshore Equipment: This includes dredges, pipelines, and support vessels that were used to extract and transport sand from offshore borrow sites to the beach. Once the project is completed, this equipment is dismantled and moved back to their storage or operational bases.
- Onshore Equipment: Bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and other heavy machinery used to spread and contour the sand on the beach are also removed. Any temporary facilities such as work trailers or storage units set up for the project are also taken down.
- Site Clean-Up: The beach and surrounding areas are cleaned to ensure no debris or construction materials are left behind. The goal is to restore the area to a safe, clean, and natural state for public use.
- Inspection and Compliance: Before leaving the site, teams ensure that all work meets the project’s environmental, safety, and engineering standards. Any final adjustments or fixes are made to ensure compliance with local regulations and project specifications.
Demobilization is an important phase as it marks the transition from construction back to a fully accessible and enjoyable beach environment for the community.
*January 2, 2025: We are pleased to share that the Phipps Park renourishment project is progressing safely and efficiently. Weather conditions over the upcoming weekend (January 4–5) may impact operations. In the event of high seas, crews may temporarily halt activities and resume once conditions improve.
Based on the volume of sand placed thus far, project managers anticipate completing the work within the next one to two weeks. Crews are currently completing operations in front of Tres Vidas and will soon transition to work near the Harbor House and Reef Condominiums. Work is progressing from south to north. Environmental testing and monitoring, including daily turbidity assessments, are ongoing to ensure the protection of reefs and wildlife within the vicinity of the project.
For the community’s enjoyment, the contractor has announced that additional shell will be made available at Phipps Ocean Park.
We kindly remind everyone to prioritize safety when near or passing by construction areas to support the timely and secure completion of the project.
For questions or additional information, please contact us at 561-838-5440 or pworks@townofpalmbeach.com.
*December 26, 2024: The Phipps Ocean Park Beach Renourishment Project is progressing north. Dredging is underway, and sand placement is occurring near the northern portion of the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course. Approximately 240,000 cubic yards of sand have been placed on the beach so far, representing nearly 32% of the total contracted amount of 750,000 cubic yards. Crews will continue to work 24/7 as weather permits.
Accumulated shell material is available for the public at Phipps Ocean Park, south of the north parking lot behind the Little Red Schoolhouse. Additional material is anticipated to be available in the next coming weeks and will be deposited in this area.
*December 19, 2024: Operations are still temporarily paused for our Phipps Ocean Park Beach Renourishment Project due to weather. The forecast shows improving weather conditions, so operations should be able to safely resume soon. Construction crews are beginning to reassemble onshore equipment and are remobilizing the dredge to the sand borrow area today. This setup process is expected to take approximately 10–12 hours, with dredging and sand placement operations potentially restarting today.
The Town of Palm Beach reminds residents to exercise caution near the construction areas and to prioritize safety as project operations resume. Sand ramps over the pipe on the beach are provided for beach access.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete this important project to protect and enhance our shoreline.
*December 12, 2024: Dredging operations for the Phipps Park Renourishment project began on Monday, December 9th, and crews have made significant progress during initial dredging operations. Approximately 70,000 cubic yards of sand have already been placed on the beach so far, representing nearly 10% of the total contracted amount of 750,000 cubic yards. However, due to impending weather conditions, construction has been temporarily paused to prioritize safety. This is standard protocol for all beach construction projects. During the weather event, the dredge will be relocated to Palm Beach Harbor. Onshore machinery will remain stationed on the beach off the Par 3 golf course until work resumes.
Many residents have inquired about the popular shell mound associated with this project in years past. The Town intends to make this material available when enough shell material has accumulated. Project managers anticipate shell will be available in the coming weeks and placed at Phipps Park behind the Fire Station.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to safely and efficiently complete this important renourishment effort. Stay tuned for frequent updates.
*December 6, 2024: Due to offshore weather conditions, in the interest of safety, construction dredging that was set to begin on December 1st is now expected to commence on Monday, December 9th.
The north parking lot of Phipps Ocean Park is closed to the public and is being used as a construction staging area. The pipe that will be used to carry sand from the offshore sand borrow area has been laid and can be seen on the beach adjacent to the Ambassador. The dredge is at Palm Beach Harbor. Sections of beach will be closed as construction progresses, moving north approximately 200 feet per day, and the team will be working 24/7 in order to complete the project in the timeliest manner. Please check back frequently for updates as the project proceeds.
Project Description
Phipps Ocean Park and adjacent areas were damaged by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. This project will perform regular maintenance and storm damage repairs. It includes approximately 750,000 cubic yards of sand dredged from an offshore borrow area and placed on the beach and in the dunes in Reaches 7, 8, and 9.
Location: Dunes to be constructed from Sloan’s Curve to Phipps Ocean Park and Lake Worth Beach to Lantana Municipal Beach. The beach will be constructed from Phipps Ocean Park and then moved to the Ambassador Hotel.
Resident Beach Access: The construction activities will temporarily affect beach access to residents and visitors. The Town of Palm Beach is committed to maintaining transparent communication with the community and will keep residents informed about the progress throughout the project.
