As the City Council may recall, Peanut Island is comprised of various recreational, historical, and educational amenities.  More specifically, Peanut Island Park contains camp and picnic sites, a pier, a manmade reef, paths, and gardens.  Furthermore, Peanut Island is also the location of Coast Guard facilities to include President John F. Kennedy’s nuclear fall-out bunker, both of which are now in disrepair but were open to the public for tours prior to 2017.  Geographically, the subject property is comprised of approximately eighty-four (84) acres of land that is located in the intra-coastal waterway. 

Generally, over the past several months, staff members have consistently communicated the City’s desire to redevelop certain property located on Peanut Island.  In concert, based on the previous legislative actions communicated by the City Council, staff has progressively moved forward with related activities centered on acquiring the subject property.   

At this time, key staff is positioned to conduct formal negotiations with the Port of Palm Beach (the “Port”) to negotiate a deed and/or lease agreement leading to a deed for the City to acquire approximately five (5) acres of certain property located on Peanut Island.  Staff believes that this opportunity to redevelop Peanut Island will foster beneficial results for the community as a whole and will realize increased economic growth, restoration of a historical site characterized by local and national significance as well as the establishment of a hub for ecotourism which is novel in south-eastern Florida.