The restrooms and concession building at Jensen Beach Park, destroyed in a fire on New Year's Eve in December 2024, remain an empty plot of land with construction not expected to begin until early 2027. Beachgoer Gonda Ghebert, who contacted the news station, complained that beachgoers are left with only one very small restroom facility to serve the entire beach, which has become increasingly unreasonable during weekends, holidays, and peak tourist season. Regular visitors say they also miss the cafe that once provided convenient access to food and drinks. Julie Goings said she chose the beach because it had nice, clean facilities and showers, and it was convenient to get a snack or drink coming off the deck. Sam Elliott noted that the only thing really missing is concessions and food availability.
Kevin Abbate, the Parks and Recreation director, explained the permitting process takes time because it must go through the Department of Environmental Protection. The park sits on a protected dune, and that permit is currently in process. The design for the new 9,000 square foot Sea Turtle Beach Cafe is 80 percent complete. The building will stand at about 15 feet in elevation with seating for 100 people and 33 at the bar.
The county says final funding is expected to be approved in September. They hope to start construction in early 2027 with a completion goal of late 2027, just in time for the winter season. The county has no plans for additional temporary restrooms or facilities during the construction period. Abbate said the cafe will be worth the wait, emphasizing the importance of doing it right. "We want to do it right. If we design it properly, when we get through construction, we'll have fewer issues, it'll be a much smoother process," Abbate said.
Beachgoers expressed their eagerness for the project to move forward. Elliott said he is hoping it moves real fast. Goings said she wants the bathrooms up and running and it would be nice to have another little convenient spot. The extended timeline means visitors will continue dealing with limited facilities for at least another year before construction even begins, with the new building not ready until late 2027 at the earliest.