The Park Service is proposing to rehabilitate the sea wall at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument/NPS file

The National Park Service is planning a multimillion-dollar project to raise and rehabilitate the failing seawalls at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Florida and is seeking public comment on the project.

Funded by the 2023 Disaster Supplement bill, this project aims to repair damage from storms and enhance resiliency to create an optimal visitor experience and improve safety while minimizing potential impacts on natural and cultural resources, the agency said in a release. Public comment on the project can be made between June 17 and July 17. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. at Renaissance St. Augustine – Historic Downtown Hotel, located at 6 West Castillo in downtown St. Augustine, Florida.

“We have a unique opportunity to build community resilience to coastal storms, funding levels of this magnitude are rare,” said Superintendent Gordie Wilson. “This plan will evaluate options for replacing critical centuries-old infrastructure that is failing. Strengthening our seawall will ensure the safety of visitors to our park and our city, while maintaining the cultural integrity of the oldest masonry fortification in the Continental United States.”

The current conditions of the existing seawall sections range from fair to poor condition. By raising and repairing the seawalls, this project aims to not only protect the historic and cultural resources of the park, but also aid in flood prevention and resiliency for the City of St. Augustine and the historic downtown.

Starting June 17, the public can view a project newsletter with information about the project and alternative actions and submit written comments on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website.

Although submitting comments through the project website is preferred, comments may also be mailed to:

Attn: Superintendent Gordie Wilson
Raise and Rehabilitate Seawall Project
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
1 South Castillo Drive St Augustine, FL 32084

Castillo de San Marcos, a unit of the National Park Service, has stood for more than 350 years, serving as a cornerstone of the St. Augustine community. The fort offers a glimpse into the early history of the United States. Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States.