Boating & Fishing

Grants to Fund Public Dock Upgrades, ICW Work Near Spanish River Park

by
Daniel Nee
May 1, 2026

A pair of grants would provide upgrades to a publicly-owned dock at Spanish River Park as well as the planning of additional improvement projects within the adjacent area of the intracoastal waterway.

The city council this week approved a resolution accepting the two grants from the Florida Inland Navigation District ‘s Water Assistance Program if approved. The first grant would cover 50 percent of the dock’s improvements, which will focus on stabilizing and rehabilitating the existing infrastructure, including the repair of a failing revetment, replacement of degraded rip rap, and structural upgrades to dock elements and pilings to support the increased weight of newly-acquired police boat lifts. Additional improvements may include electrical and lightning-protection upgrades, replacement of worn components, and targeted maintenance dredging.

The seven-slip dock along the ICW at Spanish River Park, Boca Raton, FL, May 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

A major dredge was completed in 2024. The total cost of the upgrades and maintenance dredging is estimated to be $2 million, half of which would be funded by the grant. The dock includes seven slips shared by the public, city police, and members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The second grant seeks funding for planning, permitting, and design of a “coordinated set of improvements” along the ICW at Spanish River Park. The funding – $235,000 provided by the state of a $500,000 total – will be used to plan the construction and maintenance of a future seawall, revetment, jetty, and shoreline projects, as well as strengthen emergency response capabilities. Improvements to public amenities, including the kayak launch, would also be included in the grant funding.