{"id":383090,"date":"2026-08-28T00:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T00:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/383090\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T00:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T00:56:14","slug":"safety-harbor-pier-back-open-after-being-destroyed-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/383090\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety Harbor Pier back open after being destroyed in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. \u2014 A staple of the Safety Harbor community is back after being closed for nearly two years.<\/p>\n

The Safety Harbor Pier is open after it was swept away during the 2024 hurricane season.<\/p>\n

It was damaged during Hurricane Debby before Hurricane Helene destroyed it.<\/p>\n

City officials said the new pier came in under budget with a price tag of under $1.26 million.<\/p>\n

Residents said they are excited to have the amenity back in their community.<\/p>\n

“It’s the greatest feeling,” said resident\u00a0Joshua Paul Hooks. “It took forever. You know, two years goes by, but it felt like forever, and I think it felt so long because this is a nightly ritual for the family, right? We all come down and the kids play in the park over here, and you come out, you fish. You take a walk. You enjoy the breeze.”<\/p>\n

The new pier is the same as the old one, just with newer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, local business owners said the reopening could be a major boost for tourism<\/a> \u2014 and for the small businesses that give the waterfront town its charm.<\/p>\n

Tom Bassano, who owns Bassano Cheesecake Cafe,\u00a0said the loss of the pier slowed business significantly.<\/p>\n

The city will host a grand reopening of the pier on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

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