Environmentally Sensitive Construction

The Fakahatchee Strand Roadside Park Project was one of the most challenging undertakings for DEC Contracting due to its remote location, unique design, and strict environmental permitting requirements. Located in the heart of the Everglades, the project demanded extraordinary care to protect the surrounding ecosystem while delivering complex construction elements.
Key features of the project included:

• Open Pavilion – Constructed on environmentally sensitive land, the pavilion required all work to be performed strictly within its building footprint, ensuring no disturbance to the surrounding vegetation. Access to the pavilion was provided via an arched pedestrian bridge and boardwalk spanning a canal and sawgrass.
  
  
• Standalone Restroom Facility – Built on concrete piles cantilevered over the canal, the restroom presented significant structural and logistical challenges.
  
  
• Site Development – Included construction of a parking lot for cars and RVs, permanent RV spaces for volunteers, and a septic system serving both the restroom and RV facilities. One of the most demanding tasks was demucking the entire site to a depth of eight feet, which required an advanced dewatering system to allow for the import and placement of clean, compacted fill.
  
  
• Expanded Scope – During construction, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) added a 1,500-foot wooden boardwalk meandering through sawgrass, complete with bridges spanning active alligator slides to preserve existing wildlife travel paths. An additional 2,000 feet of shell pathway was also constructed.

The project required extraordinary coordination and precision, as work could only occur within designated construction footprints under strict regulatory oversight. Despite these challenges, DEC Contracting successfully delivered a project that not only enhanced public access and enjoyment of the Everglades but also respected and preserved its delicate natural environment.

Project Stats:

Location: Fakahatchee Strand State Park

Year Completed: March 10, 2024

Contract Amount: $7,510,220