Key Colony Beach unveils refreshed Sunset Park with county funding

Seasonal residents returning to the Florida Keys found a notably refreshed Sunset Park when Key Colony Beach hosted a free cookout and concert Jan. 11 to mark recent upgrades. The event, an expanded version of the city’s Hot Dogs with the Cops series, combined a community lunch with three hours of live music by the 79th Street Band and drew city leaders, volunteers and families to the waterfront lawn.

Monroe County Tourist Development Council provided more than $60,000 to finance the work, which added shade sails over the park lawn and a separate sail to shelter performers. A new ADA-compliant walkway improves access across the park, and refreshed landscaping and flower borders drew praise from the city’s beautification committee. City officials said upgrades to the family-friendly fishing pier are still in progress and will complete the commission’s vision for the park.

The Key Colony Beach Police Department helped staff the cookout, with sergeant Jamie Buxton, officer John Buckwalter, chief Kris DiGiovanni and officer Nicholas Niemiec pictured working the grills. The event was supported by the KCB Beautification Committee and the KCB Fishing and Boating Club, signaling a mix of official and volunteer investment in the park’s revival.

KCB Mayor Freddie Foster framed the project as part of a broader municipal push. “This is the rebirth of KCB, and a thank-you to the community for being so patient,” Foster said. He noted a string of recent capital work across the city, including ADA and parking upgrades at other parks, a new tank for the city’s sewer plant, and a redesign of the retention pond that will add trees and lighted fountains. “If you look at everything we’ve done in the last 12 to 14 months – we’ve just been all over this city,” Foster said. “Where we’ve really done well is finding state and local grant resources to do all these kinds of things.”

For residents and returning seasonal visitors, the upgrades mean easier and safer access to a beloved public space and more shade during the long Keys sun. The ADA path removes a physical barrier for those using mobility aids, while the landscaping and planned pier improvements aim to make Sunset Park a more inviting spot for families, anglers and evening strolls.

Sunset Park’s refresh is one element of a wave of small infrastructure projects funded through grants and local partnerships. As pier work continues and programming resumes, city leaders say more community events and maintenance upgrades will follow, offering tangible benefits for Monroe County residents and visitors who rely on accessible, well-kept public spaces.