Esther Street Beachfront Park
New Smyrna Beach and Volusia County officials recently held a grand opening for the City's Esther Street Beachfront Park. The park provides 45 spaces of off-beach parking just a few blocks north of one of Volusia County's most popular beach ramps - Flagler Avenue. The project also includes a playground, walking trails, pavilions, restroom facilities and a volleyball area.

Construction on the stormwater improvements portion of the project included drainage improvements to reduce flooding in the North Atlantic Avenue area and milling and resurfacing of the roadway along North Atlantic Avenue from Flagler Avenue to Crawford Road. The seawall was reconstructed and a dune walkover was built.

The total cost of construction was nearly $1.6 million and was funded jointly by the County of Volusia and the City of New Smyrna Beach through its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the City's stormwater fund, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Progress toward establishing new CRA
The City of New Smyrna Beach is working with its consultant to finalize a blight study of an area selected to be included in a new CRA. Kimley Horn, the consultant, is scheduled to present a brief overview of the study's findings at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, in City Commission Chambers. The proposed CRA includes US 1 from just north of the municipal airport to the southern City limits, the Historic Westside Community (within the city limits), the Canal Street Historic District, Bert Fish Medical Center, a portion of SR 44 to include the former K-Mart building, and contiguous residential areas.

March Job Fair appeals to residents
The second annual New Smyrna Beach Job Fair provided a venue for employers and potential employees to meet face to face. Held March 14 at the Alonzo "Babe" James Community Center, more than 80 applicants had access to 14 vendors. Another 15 people received assistance with updating or creating a resume'. Participants came from New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Deland, Holly Hill, Port Orange and South Daytona. Resume' assistance is available year round by calling 386.314.4849.

Mary Avenue Playground to get upgrade 
The Mary Avenue Playground in the Historic Westside Community soon will get a significant facelift. Construction is expected to begin next month and will include a new restroom facility, picnic pavilion area, new fencing, and playground equipment. The project is expected to be completed in August and will be funded jointly by the County of Volusia and City of New Smyrna Beach through the City's CRA.

Residents discuss North Causeway Plan 
Nearly 60 New Smyrna Beach residents attended a half-day community workshop on the North Causeway Plan earlier this month. Discussion included options for use of the Administrative Office Building (AOB) site at 160 N. Causeway, which is one of the last vacant waterfront parcels in the City's core area. The majority of attendees favored securing public access to the Intracoastal Waterway from the site whether it was through creating a public park or including this provision in a commercial sale. 

Residents also discussed the architectural design guidelines for new development on the North Causeway and needed improvements to the North Causeway right-of-way. Staff will present the residents' recommendations to the City Commission May 28.  Based upon input and direction from the City Commission, staff will begin implementing recommended changes in June.