Stuart begins major Courtesy Dock expansion, adding 26 boat slips

Construction began July 6 on the City of Stuart’s major Courtesy Dock upgrade and expansion along the downtown waterfront. The project is planned to add 26 boat slips, bringing the completed public docking facility to 44 slips.

For boaters, the planned expansion would increase the number of spaces available at a city-controlled waterfront facility. The city says approximately 1,450 boaters use the courtesy docks each year, making the project relevant to people who already use the site as well as to future public docking activity.

What Stuart is building

The project replaces the existing 5,533-square-foot floating dock and associated pilings. The planned replacement and expansion includes a 7,590-square-foot fixed dock, a 1,400-square-foot concrete floating dock and a 300-square-foot floating vessel platform.

The city describes the work as a major Courtesy Dock upgrade rather than a completed facility. July 6, 2026, is the construction start date. The City of Stuart’s announcement, published May 18, identified that start date but did not provide a completion deadline.

Why the project matters downtown

Stuart says the project is intended to increase public docking capacity and improve long-term waterfront resiliency. It is also intended to support access to downtown restaurants, shops, events and attractions for people arriving by boat.

That stated purpose connects the dock improvements to downtown waterfront access, including access used by boaters visiting local businesses and community attractions. The available information does not establish that the expansion will guarantee increased tourism, business revenue or any specific economic result.

What has not been announced

The city’s construction announcement does not identify a total project cost or contractor. It also does not describe temporary access restrictions during construction. Boaters and other waterfront users therefore do not have, in the approved announcement, a construction-access schedule or a published completion date.

The announcement also does not establish operating rules for the expanded slips or the floating vessel platform. It does not describe the facility as a marina open to all vessel types.

Stuart’s official 2026 Public Meetings Calendar provides the city’s public-meeting and municipal-notice framework for projects and actions. No additional construction milestone or deadline is identified in the approved materials beyond the July 6 start of work.