UPDATE: Lee Wenner Parking Redesign Project in Cocoa Village to be Completed in September

The project remains on its original schedule to be completed by September 2025 or sooner

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA — The Cocoa Community Redevelopment Agency approved the Lee Wenner Park Parking Redesign project. Work began in September 2024 with the goal of increasing the number of available parking spaces in Cocoa Village by 75 spaces while maintaining the boat trailer parking for patrons that utilize the boat ramps.

Ongoing efforts have been made to expand parking in Cocoa Village. Over the last few years, the city has implemented various initiatives to increase parking availability in the Cocoa Village business district.

These efforts include the expansion of on-street parking, and the development of a new parking lot off of Oleander Street, west of Florida Avenue. The City continues to look for ways to increase parking availability in Cocoa Village.

The project, which was identified as a priority in the Cocoa Waterfront Master Plan, will re-configure the parking lot, utilizing some of the grassy areas to allow for additional parking spaces. It will also include new curbing, asphalt, drainage structures, signage, utilities and lighting.

 

Project Timeline

The Lee Wenner Park Parking Redesign project began September 9, 2024, with the main contractor mobilizing on site. It was estimated to take one year to complete. Therefore, the original estimate for completion was September 2025.

In December 2024 the first portion of work was completed by the main contractor.

Florida City Gas, who had a utility easement agreement with the City of Cocoa, was scheduled to begin work on the utility project spanning both Lee Wenner Park and Merritt Island, but permitting delayed their start.

In March 2025 Florida City Gas commenced utility work, for both Lee Wenner Park and Merritt Island. This dual-location work may have caused the appearance of inactivity at Lee Wenner Park. Florida City Gas completed their utility work by the end of May 2025.

The main contractor was officially notified of utility work completion and has resumed work beginning June 9, 2025, on the remaining portions of the project.

Next Steps

The contractor will be paving the Lee Wenner Park area over the next couple of weeks. Florida Power and Light is scheduled to install new lighting, although the date of this appointment has not been released by the City. While paving and lighting is being completed, irrigation and landscaping will also be added to the workload at time still to be determined.

Some of the original landscaping was removed in the medians to accommodate the redesign for additional parking spaces. However, the City of Cocoa will restore and beautify the area with new landscaping as part of the final phase.

Current Status

The project remains on its original schedule to be completed by September 2025. In fact, the city is working diligently to try and get the park open even sooner. The importance of the much-needed parking spaces is top priority.

One issue, in Florida over the summer, is delays caused by rain. The City will continue to strive to have the project completed earlier than originally anticipated.

Despite appearances, steady progress has been made, and the redesigned Lee Wenner Park will soon offer expanded parking and a rejuvenated recreational space for all to enjoy.

Community Event Impact

All event organizers that were scheduled to utilized the park for their event were notified in 2024 that the project would close the park for a year.

Lee Wenner Park is the designated launch site for the City of Cocoa’s fireworks display. For safety reasons, the fireworks vendor requires a secure area, where there are no people, to safely launch the fireworks. Lee Wenner Park has been that location for over 20 years, and will remain the designated site for 2025.

The Space Coast Duathlon that was originally scheduled in March has been rescheduled to October 2025, in order to utilize Lee Wenner Park for their event.

Other events, such as the Space Coast Marathon that happens every November, have moved to another location.

 

 

 

Parking in the Interim

While this project is underway, there are additional parking areas throughout the village including:

● Stone St. Public Parking Lot, between Oleander St. and Stone St. just east of Florida Ave.
● Oleander St. Public Parking, on Oleander St. just west of Hughlett Ave.
● Old City Hall Site, on the southwest corner of Brevard Ave. and Factory St.
● Rosa L Jones Public Parking, on the southwest corner of Florida Ave. and Rosa L. Jones Dr.
● City Hall Parking Area, on the northwest corner of Orange St. and Florida Ave. Only open on the evenings and weekends.

Parking area map provided by Historic Cocoa Village Main Street.

There are also a number of other public boat ramps available to access the Indian River including:

● Port St. John Boat Ramp at 6650 N Cocoa Blvd., Cocoa
● Griffis Landing Intracoastal Waterway Park at 1 Myrtice Ave., Merritt Island
● Pineda Causeway Ramp at 5879 N US Hwy 1, Melbourne

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