One of the most popular boat launches in Collier County is nearing completion and set to open before fall.
Collier Boulevard Boating Park, also known as the 951 boat ramp, has been closed since mid-February for major construction that had been planned for years but was delayed when in 2022 Hurricane Ian severely damaged nearby Caxambas Park and its boat ramp on Marco Island. When Caxambas reopened Feb. 15, 2025, work began on the Collier Boulevard park located on SR/CR 951 just north of Marco Island’s S.S. Jolley Bridge and east across 951 from Isles of Capri.
Here’s what we know and what you’ll see when the boat park at 3620 Collier Blvd. in Naples reopens.
What is changing and how much did it cost?
The seawall has been replaced, along with boat ramp structures and timber pilings. An Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant gangway and an ADA-compliant sidewalk leading to it from the parking lot have been built. A floating concrete dock was added, and the entire parking lot will be repaved, according to Collier County planning documents.
“This isn’t a renovation — but just as we did at Caxambas — A TOTAL REBUILD,” Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro (District 1) wrote in his June 18 “Commissioner’s Report” newsletter. “In addition to the completely new boat launch and new seawalls… we will be repaving the parking lot and adding new and more lights to it… and adding floating docks (which were once in place — but ‘disappeared’ years ago).”
Marine contractor Kelly Brothers, Inc. did the work at Caxambas and is in charge of the Collier Boulevard park as well. Collier commissioners approved Kelly Brothers’ $1.22 million bid in October 2024 with a contingency of $50,000.
The Collier Boulevard park has 88 parking spots, including 83 for boat trailers, three for vehicles, and two handicap-accessible spaces, that were added in a project that was completed in 2020.
Unlike Caxambas, the park does not sell fuel and has no restrooms. LoCastro said some residents have asked why restrooms weren’t added.
“Having those facilities is a great idea … but bringing the proper ‘plumbing’ to that location and the added footprint restrooms would require is a huge investment and sacrifices space we actually don’t have,” he wrote. “Every County facility doesn’t come with restrooms. We put them where we can and where they actually fit and have the utilities needed to do so. Also, port-o-johns are not meant to be permanent restroom facilities – they are located temporarily on construction sites, etc., and not a permanent restroom substitute.”
Collier County media personnel didn’t return emails and phone calls from the Naples Daily News, but LoCastro said construction is ahead of schedule.
“The contractor has always had until the end of August to ‘give us the keys back’. But the good news is — currently the timelines seem to be slightly ahead of schedule,” he wrote.
Florida leads the nation in boating with a total number of 1.03 million registered vessels in 2024, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Florida Boating Accident Statistics. In Collier County, registrations were 24,472, up from 23,942 registered vessels in 2023. In more populated Lee County, registrations were 48,139 in 2024, according to the FWC report.
What was done at Caxambas and where is it?
Located at 909 Collier Court, Caxambas Boat Park is at the south end of Marco Island.
Kelly Brothers was awarded the bid for construction in March 2024 for $2.74 million.
“This was the most severely destroyed County facility during Hurricane Ian … and we are proud of the progress made and the heroic efforts by many to rebuild and reopen it,” LoCastro wrote.
“Due to a combination of aging infrastructure and the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian, the park requires repair and rehabilitation, including the replacement of the seawall, docks, boat ramp, floating docks and guide piles, fixed timber docks, boat lift structure, electrical system, site restoration, and paving,” Collier County staff wrote in a report to commissioners.
Phase I of the renovation focused on re-opening the boat ramp, which is now re-opened. Phase II will include the replacement of the fueling service system destroyed by Hurricane Ian and is expected to be completed in late 2025.
The boat ramp operates from sunrise to sunset. The onsite Ship Store had a soft opening from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with limited sundry items, adding frozen bait and other goods over time. Ship Store hours will extend to 5 p.m. once fully operational.
“The fuel project will begin soon to restore fuel sales to Caxambas since the underground tank was destroyed by Hurricane Ian,” LoCastro wrote. “The new location of the underground tank will be behind the marina store, and that area will be fenced off for safety as contractors work to install a new tank to deliver fuel sales services back to the location. We expect the project to start in the coming months, with fuel flowing by the fall if all goes as planned.”
No business activity at Caxambas
Some heated discussions have taken place on Marco Island because no commercial activity is allowed at the Caxambas boat ramp. That means no fishing charters, no kayak or jet ski tours. One resident has been to Marco Island City Council because he sometimes uses his boat for business and needs to have a company pick up his boat at the dock to take it for repairs, but that is not allowed.
While Collier County is responsible for the operations at Caxambas Park, Marco Island is in charge of permitting, site plans, parking layout and rezoning. Per City of Marco Island Ordinance, the only permitted accessory commercial operations at Caxambas Park are the fuel station and the Ship Store.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Collier County’s most popular boat ramp, closed since February, set to reopen by fall
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Naples Daily News / Marco Eagle
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