Delray Beach Shores Up Coastline with Multimillion-Dollar Renourishment Project

As of November 15, 2025, the city of Delray Beach is preparing to begin a major beach renourishment project this winter to address the steady narrowing of its shoreline due to storms and rising seas. The multimillion-dollar undertaking, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will bring in large volumes of new sand to restore the beach to its full width.

According to Delray Beach's public works director, Missie Barletto, construction is expected to start shortly after a groundbreaking ceremony in mid-December and will be substantially completed before the start of sea turtle nesting season on March 1. The project has been awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the same contractor that handled the city's storm-repair work in 2020.

City officials have stated that the beach renourishment effort is intended not only to protect coastal infrastructure but also to restore recreational space and strengthen natural defenses against storm surge and sea-level rise. They also anticipate tourism benefits, as Delray Beach's wide beaches draw visitors throughout the winter season.

Funding for the project comes from several sources, including the federal government, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Palm Beach County, and the city itself. Federal dollars are being provided through the Fiscal 2025 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Delray Beach City Manager Terrence Moore has expressed the city's pride in taking this important step toward protecting its coastline and ensuring the future vitality of the community, reflecting cooperation across multiple levels of government and the city's commitment to long-term resilience.