SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian City Council voted 3-2 Wednesday to approve Concept C for renovations at Riverview Park, opting against a permanent closure of Harrison Street despite calls from residents for enhanced pedestrian safety.
The decision followed a presentation by Parks and Recreation Director Richard Blankenship, who outlined two main options for upgrading the park along the Indian River. Concept C keeps Harrison Street open but adds an extended speed table — a long, flat-topped speed hump — to slow traffic and improve safety for pedestrians. It beat out Concept B, which would have closed the street entirely to create a more seamless park experience.
Council members Bob McPartlan, Ed Dodd and Sherrie Mathews supported Concept C, while Mayor Fred Jones and Councilman Chris Nunn favored the closure in Concept B.
The upgrades stem from public workshops held in May 2024, where city staff gathered input on needed improvements. Plans include a new playground to replace the aging one, a relocated splash pad moved north of Harrison Street for better access alongside the playground, additional picnic pavilions, and shifting the sand volleyball courts across Indian River Drive to the Twin Piers area.
That relocation would free up space for a new permanent amphitheater to replace the current portable stage, along with extra parking, landscaping, sidewalks and pier enhancements. Blankenship noted that Concept C maintains vendor space for events and even adds some, ensuring the park remains versatile.
“Good evening, council,” Blankenship said during his presentation. “We’re looking at Concept B, which is basically closing Harrison Street, moving the splash pad to the north side of Harrison and potentially moving the playground a little bit closer to the splash pad so that parents and users have a joint or an easy convenient way of access.”
He added that Concept C’s key difference is avoiding the closure, instead using the speed table for traffic control. “We would close it during special events like we do now, but it wouldn’t be a permanent closing,” Blankenship explained.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had recommended Concept C at its Oct. 27, 2025, meeting. During public comment at the council session, most speakers pushed for Concept B, citing safety concerns for families with young children who wanted freer movement through the park without vehicle traffic.
Funding for the project includes two grants totaling $3.2 million. One, from the Florida Inland Navigation District, covers design and permitting for the first phase and must be completed by mid-September 2026. The other, a larger Land and Water Conservation grant, is awaiting final execution from state agencies.
Regardless of the chosen concept, the timeline remains tentative: Site surveys in January or February 2026, followed by Phase I design and permitting from January through September 2026. That phase focuses on overflow parking, access upgrades, the playground and splash pad — with public input — plus pavilions, utilities and landscaping.
A public workshop is set for June 2026 to gather feedback on Phase I and potential Phase II elements, with design updates in July. Bidding for Phase I would run from October to December 2026, and construction from March 2027 to March 2028.
Phase II, covering the amphitheater, Twin Piers development including volleyball courts, on-street parking, pier upgrades and more sidewalks and landscaping, would design from September 2026 to February 2027. Another workshop follows in March 2027, with updates in April, bidding in June through August 2027, and construction from October 2027 to July 2028.
City officials said the project aligns with Sebastian’s strategic plan to boost quality of life for residents and visitors.