A $4 million beach renourishment project at Honeymoon Island is set to wrap up just in time for the weekend.
Park Manger Peter Krulder said the project funded the construction of three additional jetties on the north end of the island to help keep sand in place longer.
“That blocks the wave energy that’s coming in off the gulf,” Krulder said. “And the stem of the t-groin will slow the sand's migration moving north and south.”
Krulder said 165,000 cubic yards of new sand was laid down over rocks originally brought in by a developer in the 1960s.
Over the years, those rocks began to surface as the beach slowly eroded.
Sophia Sheeks said it got to the point that while visiting last year, she asked for a refund.
“We were complaining to the officials when we would come in and pay $8 for the day and there was no place to swim.”
But thanks to the renourishment project, 2,500 feet on the north end of Honeymoon Island is now lined with sugary white sand.
“It feels really soft and good,” said Birdgette McDougall, visiting with her family from Seattle.
“Soft. Awesome,” Sheeks said, while visiting Wednesday. “We love it.”