Refuge temporarily closes part of tract
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge reported that it closed the Bailey Tract parking lot on Tarpon Bay Road and boardwalk adjacent to the Ani Pond and Airplane Canal this week for construction activities associated with Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.
The landfall of Hurricane Ian in 2022 destroyed or badly damaged several trails/boardwalks within the refuge on Sanibel. Administration has been working with engineers and federal contractors to design new boardwalk systems to better withstand tropical cyclones in the future. As part of the rehabilitation projects, the refuge is constructing new concrete boardwalk systems at the Bailey Tract.
The vast majority of the tract and its trail systems will remain open during construction. Access to the trail systems will be maintained via the parking area adjacent to Smith Pond on Island Inn Road.
The construction activities are scheduled to last approximately two months. It thanked visitors for complying with closure signage and barriers posted to protect human health and safety.
For updates, visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn-ding-darling or the refuge’s Facebook page.