Newly planted dune vegetation at Bowman’s Beach Park on Sanibel. COURTESY PHOTO
In the wake of Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact to Sanibel in 2022, followed more recently by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, the City of Sanibel has remained steadfast in its mission to restore and protect its coastline. Through a multi-phase beach renourishment initiative, the island continues to rebuild not just its beaches, but its identity as a sanctuary for both people and wildlife.
The latest effort includes the installation of approximately 27,000 native plants on the sandy dunes of Bowman’s Beach Park and Gulfside City Park. This follows a successful planting last spring, when 30,000 native dune plants were planted at Lighthouse Beach Park. These plantings play a vital role in stabilizing dunes, enhancing storm surge protection and supporting native wildlife habitats…