Naples Pier Rebuild Takes Shape — What’s Next for the Iconic Landmark

For many locals and visitors alike, the Naples Pier is more than a walkway out into the Gulf — it’s an enduring symbol of Naples’ coastal identity. After years of planning, permitting challenges and Hurricane Ian’s severe damage in 2022, that iconic landmark is finally moving from blueprint to reality.

The original structure — built in 1888 and rebuilt multiple times over the decades — was significantly damaged when Hurricane Ian struck in September 2022. Roughly 460 feet of deck and dozens of pilings were destroyed or compromised, leaving visitors only a truncated portion of the pier and putting the future of the landmark in question for more than three years.

City officials and engineers determined the remaining structure was unsafe and that a full rebuild was necessary. To fund and authorize that work, Naples pursued federal permits and funding, including review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service and FEMA under the Endangered Species Act and other federal standards.

That extensive process — including design development with Turrell, Hall & Associates and MHK Architecture, bid negotiations and mitigation planning to reduce shoreline impacts — delayed construction until late 2025. But with final permits and FEMA funding now in place, crews officially broke ground in early January 2026.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, attended by local leaders and residents eager to see progress, officials emphasized both the pier’s cultural significance and the improved resilience built into the new design. The project starts with full demolition of the damaged sections before reconstruction begins, expected to take roughly 18 months from notice to proceed.

The new pier will reflect modern engineering standards and federal, state and local design criteria, with enhancements aimed at durability and visitor experience. These include larger, more robust pilings, reinforced decking and a structure elevated higher above the water to better withstand future storms. Designers also worked to minimize environmental impact by reducing the number of pilings and increasing spacing between them.

Importantly for Naples residents and visitors, the rebuild effort has sought to preserve the pier’s historic charm while equipping it for decades of use as a place for fishing, wildlife watching, socializing and sunset views — the same experiences that made it a favorite for more than a century.

Beach access around the construction zone remains available via designated pedestrian bypasses at nearby Broad Avenue South and 13th Avenue South, though the pier itself and some amenities — like restrooms and showers — are closed throughout the project. Public parking near the site has been partially reduced to accommodate staging work.

City officials have said the new pier could reopen as early as mid-2027, offering a refreshed gathering spot and a renewed chapter in Naples’ seafront story. That timeline makes the rebuild one of the most anticipated public projects in recent Collier County history — a blend of heritage, engineering and community pride finally coming back to the Gulf.