Marineland opens Intracoastal marina

The Town of Marineland, on the border of southern St. Johns County and northern Flagler County, located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, reports to Historic City News that they have opened a new 25-slip public marina on the Intracoastal Waterway.

The marina, which is owned and operated by the Town of Marineland, is charging a daily mooring fee of $1.50 per-foot for recreational vessels with vessels up to 50 feet receiving the first hour for free, according to a Flagler County news release.

Other fees charged include optional daily electricity for $6.00 per day. Commercial vessels can dock for an additional 10 percent per day.

The public source of funding has been highly controversial — since the tiny oceanfront town only has a population of thirteen residents; according to 2009 Census estimates.

All of the money spent building the initial phase of the marina is public money.

In addition to a $150,000 contribution of funds approved on a 3-2 vote by the Flagler County Commission earlier this month, the Town of Marineland is throwing in $111,000 of community redevelopment funds and the town has gone after $235,000 from the Florida Inland Navigation District.

Marineland is spending a total of about $500,000 to build the initial boat slips along the seawall on the Intracoastal.

When the marina is fully built-out; its capacity will be 50 to 60 slips.

There are three main players financially affected by the marina; the Town of Marineland, Flagler County and a private developer.

Recreating a marina at Marineland is important to each of them for somewhat different reasons.

For the Town of Marineland the marina restores a signature perk in a town that partly made its name, in visitor’s eyes, from the old marina. It is hoped that the amenity might lead to the town’s revival.

For Flagler County, it would lift the profile of both the town and the region. The marina makes available a lay-over for some of Florida’s 400,000 registered boats.

Finally, for Pulte Homes, the private developer that took over prospective development plans in Marineland after Centex Homes collapsed, the marina is the overriding inducement to get back in there and start building homes.