PONCE INLET, Fla. — During Memorial Day weekend, Volusia County beaches are sure to be packed, and a popular jetty connector pathway along the Ponce Inlet shoreline has reopened at Lighthouse Point Park.

What You Need To Know

  • Volusia County has reopened a popular jetty connector pathway in Ponce Inlet
  • The reopened section includes 144 feet of new wood decking
  • Volusia county officials say they’re looking to have the concrete repairs to the eastern most end of the jetty deck before July 4

The structure had to close in the fall of 2024 following damage from a nor’easter just before Hurricane Milton. 

Now that it’s reopened, people are enjoying the space.

“I’ve been here for maybe three months now," Austin Medina said. "I just think the best part is being able to get sun in my eyes. I just came from a very long winter." 

Medina had to brave the cold in Alaska. Now, he’s soaking up the sun with his brother.

He moved down here to be closer to his family.

He and his brother Devin spent the day fishing right next to the newly reopened jetty connector. 

Even though it’s Medina's first time in the area, he said he’s loving every second of it. 

“I assume it’s a lot of work to get it back up and running after the hurricane, especially," Medina said. "So, I think people are excited about it. It looks like there’s a good number of people showing up."

One of those people is Volusia County spokesperson Jessica Fentress, who is passionate about the county's beaches. 

She wants to make sure the beach itself and its amenities are in the best shape possible for locals and visitors.  

“This is a vital resource for not only our community, park goers, our visitors, but also our commercial fishermen,” Fentress said. 

She said the reopened section includes 144 feet of new wood decking. It’s temporary, though, because the area sees damage from storms year after year. 

Fentress said the county is looking for a permanent fix. 

“We have an application submitted before the army corps of engineers to extend this concrete jetty deck 400 feet to the west," she said. "What that will do is it will eliminate the need to rebuild this walkover every single spring."

Volusia County officials say they’re looking to have the concrete repairs to the easternmost end of the jetty deck before the Fourt of July with the jetty expansion occurring in 2026 after their coastal resiliency initiative wraps up at Lighthouse Point Park.