If you’ve driven down South Atlantic Avenue lately, you’ve probably noticed something looks... different. Or maybe you've heard the rhythmic hum of machinery echoing off the waves. Honestly, New Smyrna Beach is in the middle of a massive face-lift that most people are only seeing in snippets. It isn't just about another tourist season; it's about the literal ground shifting beneath our feet.
There is a lot of news in New Smyrna Beach right now, and if you're a local or a regular visitor, you need to know about the sand, the streets, and the big changes at the hospital.
The Great Sand Shuffle: Saving Our Shoreline
Let’s talk about the beach first. It’s why we’re all here, right? But the scars from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole have been stubborn. Finally, this January, the "South Berm Construction Project" is in full swing.
Volusia County crews are currently pumping about 500,000 cubic yards of sand onto a 5.5-mile stretch of our coast. Basically, they're taking sand from the Rattlesnake Island dredge area, mixing it with water to make a slurry, and piping it right onto the beach. It’s a messy process, and yeah, it means some sections of the beach are temporarily closed as the pipeline moves south toward 5205 S. Atlantic Ave.
If you own property between Sapphire Road and that south limit, and you haven't signed your construction easement yet, you’re kinda holding up the show. Without that paperwork, the county can’t put sand in front of your place.
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The goal is simple: rebuild the dune system to act as a buffer for the next big storm. They expect to be done by mid-March, just in time for the spring break rush.
Big Moves at AdventHealth
In a town this size, healthcare news is a big deal. Dr. Jose Rosado just stepped into the role of Chief Medical Officer at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach. This isn't some corporate outsider—Rosado has been an ER doc and the Chief of Staff here since 2009.
He’s taking over a facility that was recently named a "Top Hospital" by Leapfrog for the second time in a row. For a community hospital, that's a huge badge of honor regarding patient safety. Having a local leader who’s been in the trenches of the ER during bike weeks and holiday weekends matters. It’s about trust.
Why Your Commute is About to Get Weird
If you thought S.R. 44 was already a headache, buckle up. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has confirmed a $10.7 million project to resurface 2.5 miles of the highway.
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Here is what to expect on S.R. 44:
- The Stretch: From west of I-95 all the way to South Walker Drive (right near Frozen Gold).
- The Upgrades: It’s not just new asphalt. They are adding a multi-use trail on the north side near the I-95 interchange and upgrading signals at Colony Park Road and South Glencoe.
- The Timeline: Construction starts in the summer of 2026, but the planning and "minor" detours are being mapped out right now.
While the main work is a few months off, the city is also moving on its five-year street resurfacing plan. On January 13, the City Commission is looking at using laser-collected data to decide which side streets get the "Priority 1" treatment first.
The Pickleball Takeover
And for the sports crowd? Phil Hall Park is almost ready. It’s a combined pickleball facility and dog run on Paige Avenue. The word is that people will be calling "0-0-2" and playing under the new LED lights by mid-January. It’s got six courts, restrooms, and covered areas—sorta the new social hub for the Glencoe area.
The 2026 Budget and Deering Park
City Manager Kevin Cowper and Finance Director Jo-Ann Drury have been pushing a "zero-based" budget for 2026. This is a nerdy way of saying they aren't just taking last year's numbers and adding 5%. They are justifying every penny.
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The big takeaway for residents? The property tax millage rate is holding steady at 4.6370, but your stormwater fees are likely ticking up from $104 to $125. Why? Because the city needs $14.4 million to fight the flooding that seems to happen every time a heavy afternoon thunderstorm rolls through.
They are also looking at the Deering Park Innovation Center. We're talking 1,600+ acres near I-95 and S.R. 44 that will eventually hold houses, shops, and industrial space. It’s the city’s play to diversify the tax base so we aren't just relying on tourism and property taxes from beach houses.
Upcoming Events You Can't Miss
If you're looking for the fun side of the news in New Smyrna Beach, the calendar is stacked.
- IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts (Jan 23-25): This is the big one. Over 53,000 people usually show up. It's free, it's on Canal Street and Riverside Drive, and there’s $30,000 in prize money for the artists.
- Shark Bite Half Marathon Weekend (Jan 17-18): Expect thousands of runners taking over the Flagler Avenue boardwalk. If you aren't running, stay away from the North Causeway that morning unless you like sitting in traffic.
- "Bluffett" at the Brannon Center (Jan 24): A Jimmy Buffett celebration concert. Honestly, in a town like NSB, this is basically a religious event.
Actionable Steps for Residents
Staying informed is one thing, but here is what you actually need to do to navigate these changes:
- Check Your Beach Access: If you usually walk the beach south of 27th Avenue, check the Volusia County beach website daily. Closures for the sand pumping move every few hundred feet.
- Sign Your Easements: If you are a beachfront owner in the South Berm area and haven't signed, contact Paul Whiting at the county (pwhiting@volusia.org). If you don't, your property becomes the "hole in the donut" where no sand is placed.
- Prepare for S.R. 44: If you live in neighborhoods like Hidden Pines or Colony Park, attend the next FDOT public workshop. They are still taking feedback on driveway reconstruction and drainage until the fall.
- Download the Budget Book: The 2026 Budget Book is already online at the city's website. If you want to see exactly where that $16 million in road money is going, it’s all in the "Capital Improvement" section.
The landscape is changing—literally—but that's the price of living in a place everyone else wants to visit. Keep an eye on the city commission agendas for the second Tuesday of every month; that’s where the real decisions on development and your tax dollars are made.