The Town of Surfside will use a section of Veterans Park as a temporary debris storage site to support the Champlain Towers South memorial project for up to 12 months. This approach protects Town resources and avoids hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs.
The storage area will extend from the palm trees near the Tennis Center to the roundabout landscaping near Collins Avenue, and from the tennis court fence line to the edge of the existing paver area near 88th Street. Brick pavers will be removed in advance to prevent damage and restored once debris storage is complete.
Access to the tennis courts will remain open, and recreational use will not be affected. Palm trees near the Tennis Center and 88th Street will be relocated. The memorial sign and bench will be moved closer to 88th Street to remain visible and protected.
Residents can continue using the Tennis Center as usual. The Town thanks the community for their understanding as the long-awaited memorial soon breaks ground to honor the victims and families. Safety, landscaping protection, and public access will be maintained throughout the storage period.
Community note: On Friday, January 16, 2026, staff met with DAMAC representatives for 2 hours. We tried to fit the debris within the project. Unfortunately, the project is currently at a stage where they do not have the needed 2,000 sq ft to accommodate the debris for the possible 12 months that we would need the space. They are committed to working with the Town and ensuring construction coordination, as well as their obligation to renourishing the beach and dune walk path in an impactful and meaningful way.