More than $1 million of improvements to Fort Hamer Park in Parrish expected to start in January

PARRISH -- A project to add more than $1 million in improvements to Fort Hamer Park is finally going to start next month.

Upgrades include a turn-around loop to aid drivers trying to park, additional parking, security lights, a pervious plaza between the boat house and restrooms, sidewalks, ADA accessible parking, and stormwater improvements. All that would be left to complete the park after this round of improvements is making the boat ramp double-wide, said Tom Yarger, construction services division manager for Manatee County government. But boat ramp widening will have to wait for another bid cycle.

Fort Hamer Park, which for years was a forlorn and largely forgotten county park, underwent a renaissance in 2011 when the $825,000 training facility was opened for competitive rowers. It has since become a magnet in winter months for some of the nation's top collegiate rowing teams.

Gator Grading and Paving of Palmetto, a subcontractor on road improvement projects associated with the Fort Hamer Bridge, submitted the only bid for park improvements in April. Because the bid exceeded $1 million, coming in higher than anticipated, it required and received county commission approval. Charlie Hunsicker, county director of Parks and Natural Resources, had anticipated the project would cost about $900,000.

Construction of the park improvements will be concurrent with construction of the $32.69 million Fort Hamer Bridge and road project by Johnson Brothers Corp. The bridge is expected to be completed in early 2017.

Hidden Harbor Park, just east of Fort Hamer Park, is expected to become a passive park with walking trails through its 90 acres, Yarger said.

The Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida has expressed interest in Fort Hamer Park.

Plans for the park show a 40-by-40-foot space reserved for the Seminole Tribe.

Fort Hamer Park has strong emotional pull for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as it was the beginning of the Trail of Tears. Native peoples were forced from their lands in Florida and relocated to territories in the West.

Fort Hamer was built in 1849, on the south side of the Manatee River near Gates Creek to protect settlers. The fort, with a garrison of 165 men, three dormitories, a hospital, a commissary, and a barn, was abandoned about a year later.

It was reactivated in 1856 during the Third Seminole Indian War.

Calls to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for comment on the proposed memorial were not returned.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter@jajones1.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:49 PM with the headline "More than $1 million of improvements to Fort Hamer Park in Parrish expected to start in January ."