A very popular rest stop at the south end of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook took a tumble from corrosion back on February 23rd (shouldn’t have eaten that last bite). Neighbors and out-of-towners have enjoyed watching the scenery under the huge “Raptor Tree” that Eagle & Osprey often use to spy on prey. Love that tree!
Appears that the 2 legged benches are all failing at the weld just under the bench. There a few more with the same design near the drinking fountain that had caution tape applied immediately after the Jacobsen bench toppled . The tape has since come off and the older benches still stand… barely
The newer 4 legged butt rest looks like a much better design for being near the saltwater…
As far as replacement, we reported a few years back on plans to rebuild that entire section of the deteriorating seawall. No bench replacement or additions were to happen until the seawall issue gets solved. Construction was intended to start last Summer but the design work was never finalized. A response from the Army Corp of Engineers back in November 2015 didn’t show much progress.
Unfortunately I don’t have any updates at this point. We are still working through our feasibility phase process before we can move into final design.
I have a current email out to the Army Corp asking for any further progress & will update as soon as they respond. Meanwhile, the storms keep pounding it and the park department continues to backfill the erosion.
Picture above taken on the stormy morning of 3/10/16… photo below was furnished by a Beach Drive neighbor the very next morning. Park department workers mentioned that they really didn’t like parking their heavy equipment on the slumping strip of grass which precariously covers the 54″ sewer line carrying 50 million gallons of sewage per day!
Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog
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This is a very unfortunate situation.. It’s time to replace it before it falls over.
The bench pictured was a memorial to Susie King. Money donated by friends, to the parks Dept, to install the bench. Do we know if there are plans to replace it.
We don’t know, Chris.