TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Ballast Point's fishing pier again up for angling

Photo by Don Legler

The 6,200 project, which began in September, includes encasement of the degraded pilings; replacement of decking, railing, benches and fish cleaning stations; renovation of an existing shelter and the addition of a shelter at end of the pier.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 17, 2009

BALLAST POINT - With repairs complete, the Ballast Point Pier is open for fishing, walking, relaxing in one of two shelters or just taking in the view of downtown Tampa across Hillsborough Bay.

The $966,200 project, which began in September, includes encasement of degraded pilings; replacement of decking, railing, benches and fish cleaning stations; renovation of an existing shelter and the addition of a shelter at end of the pier.

The old wooden boardwalk was replaced by a composite material that should last longer and need less maintenance, said Laurie Potier-Brown with the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

This fall work will begin on extending an adjacent boat ramp by 17 feet. The new ramp's slope will be steeper to provide easier boat access. The project will extend an existing boat dock, which is beside the ramp, by 70 feet and add a fixed wooden dogleg portion at the tip of the dock. Misener Marine Construction Inc. is expected to begin work on the ramp and dock in September and complete the job by March.

The work to the pier complements earlier improvements to Ballast Point Park done in 2006. Last summer the Tampa City Council approved $600,000 in additional improvements for the park. City officials are working with the Ballast Point Neighborhood Association to include a toddler playground.

Potier-Brown said the additional park improvements will go out for bid by late summer, with construction slated to begin next winter.

Jamie Pilarczyk

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT