Portion of Lynn Hall Park closing for beach renourishment on Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach will be closed beginning Saturday from the fishing pier to the north end of Lynn Hall Memorial Park for dune renourishment. We looked at what the project will do for beaches Friday.

Forrest Kiser’s whole life revolves around the beach with his business Liquid Levitation.

“It’s part of my job because I own liquid limitations, so I teach people how to fly on an electric surfboard,” Kiser said. “I’m on the beach like five days a week.”

Kiser teaches people along the coast from Boca Grande to Naples.

After Hurricane Irma hit Southwest Florida in 2017, Kiser could see the beach at Lynn Hall Park didn’t look up to par.

“I see all along our edges here,” Kiser said. “It’s pretty eroded bad, so it’s getting prevalent now.”

Help is on the way, as Lee County is set to transport 6,000 tons of sand to renourish the stretch of beach along Lynn Hall.

“The beach from the pier to north of the park boundary will be closed, starting tomorrow morning, until potentially the 24,” said Jesse Lavender, the director of Lee County Parks and Recreation. “Hopefully the contractor finishes ahead of schedule.”

The park’s south parking lot will remain open during the project, as well as the public bathrooms and showers, but the north side will have heavy equipment and a conveyor belt moving sand to the shore.

“Anytime we can get this done before the season starts officially, that’s what we try and do,” Lavender said.

Lee County is paying for the beach repairs with $200,000 from the tourist development tax. That’s money the county collects from visitors who stay in short-term rentals.

While construction is underway, Kiser said he’ll go to other beaches, such as Bowditch Point Park or Crescent Beach Family Park, to continue his business and enjoy the sun.

“This is like my home away from home, so the seeing beach is being taken care of means the world to me,” Kiser said.