- The Naples and Fort Myers Beach fishing piers have been repeatedly damaged by hurricanes over the last century.
- Following extensive damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022, both piers are on a long road to recovery and reconstruction.
- The piers are cherished landmarks that residents see as central to community identity and resilience.
- Rebuilding efforts are underway, with the Naples Pier project beginning and the Fort Myers Beach pier slated for completion in 2027.
- Future rebuilding efforts for these landmarks face uncertainty due to potential cuts in federal disaster relief funding.
Over the last century or so, both the Naples and Fort Myers Beach fishing piers have been repeatedly battered by hurricanes, only to be constantly repaired or reconstructed a dozen times between them.
After the most damaging powerful storm in Southwest Florida history with 2022’s Ian, the two icons continue to face a long road to recovery, with residents passionate about the return of the landmarks.
“The fishing piers are the centerpieces to our beaches,” reader Teresa MacKenzie told the Naples Daily News. “They must be rebuilt and protected.”…