Rowell's and Pennekamp Are Both Mid-Rebuild. Key Largo's Smaller Parks and Ramps Are Picking Up the Slack This Fall.

Rowell's Waterfront Park, at MM 104.5 on the bay, is off-limits this fall. Monroe County closed it on Sept. 21 "until further notice" to finish Phase 2 construction, and the county expects the work to wrap up in December. About two miles south at MM 102.5, the boat ramp lot at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has been short since July 22. One of its two ramps is closed, the boat sewage pump-out is closed, and boat-trailer parking has been "significantly reduced" because of construction.

These two closures look like one rough season, but they're the start of a longer run. Key Largo's two biggest public waterfronts are being rebuilt one after the other, and the published schedules run into 2028. Until then, the island's smaller parks, ramps and services are doing more of the everyday work. They're worth getting to know now.

The Calendar Runs Longer Than One Season

Each project was announced separately, so it's hard to see the full timeline. Put the dates side by side and it looks like this:

At Rowell's, the delay came from a redesign. Keys Weekly reported in August that construction stopped after the county found an issue that required redesigning the second phase. While that redesign was underway, the county won more grant money and added features that weren't in the original plan. County parks and beaches director John Allen put it plainly:

"Due to unexpected delays, the project has taken longer than originally anticipated. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to completing these improvements for the community to enjoy."

At Pennekamp, the Florida State Parks notice says only that the restrictions support "ongoing improvements." It doesn't say which ramp is closed, what is being built, or when the work will end. Major work is going on in the park at the same time. Keys Weekly reported that the $52.5 million Discovery Center & Aquarium project includes a new parking lot, a reconfigured road and a seawall replacement. Construction was expected to finish by late 2028, and the park was to stay open during the work. The two may be connected, but the state hasn't said so. Until it says otherwise, there's no published end date for the ramp closure.

What Rowell's Is Getting in Exchange

The Phase 2 list explains why the park is fully closed instead of partly open. Keys Weekly reported that it includes a new dog park with fencing, new field and park lighting, upgraded turf on the multiuse field, a bigger parking lot, new trash cans, dog water stations, picnic tables and other amenities. A Community Development Block Grant pays for it. In other words, the features that make Rowell's hard to give up for a few months are the ones being added now.

Phase 3 follows, with new shade structures, a new playground and a large tiki hut. Construction is expected to start in early 2027, and a Tourist Development Council brick-and-mortar grant fully covers it. The county hasn't announced whether Phase 3 will close the park again. That's the next notice worth watching after December.

This is the latest round of work at a park Keys Weekly has called one of Monroe County's crown jewel parks. The 8-acre site already got a new bathroom, parking lot, lighting and shared-use paths with an earlier $3 million state grant.

Where the Dog Walks and Picnics Go Until December

The nearest county alternative is Friendship Park at MM 101.3. The county describes it as a place for softball, basketball and picnics, with a playground and the Children's Memorial Tree Garden. Monroe County lists it as pet friendly. It has no fenced dog park, which is what Rowell's Phase 2 adds, so for now Friendship Park works for a leashed walk, not an off-leash run.

Key Largo Community Park covers the active side. The county's facility profile lists baseball and soccer fields, several courts, an exercise trail, a playground and a skate park. The profile doesn't list waterfront access or a dedicated dog area.

For a longer walk, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park on County Road 905 near MM 106 has more than six miles of mostly paved nature trails. Admission is $2.50 per person. Of the open options, it has the most trail mileage.

Farther south in Tavernier, Old Settlers Park is pet friendly, with a 50-by-50-foot pavilion and a playground. The county notes it has no restrooms, which matters if you're planning a family afternoon there.

The county's Sept. 10 closure notice doesn't list Friendship Park, Key Largo Community Park or Old Settlers Park. That notice covers scheduled projects, though, so it doesn't confirm day-to-day access. Signs go up at each site before any closure.

Where the Trailers Go

Pennekamp's second ramp is still open, so the park still works for launching. The problem is the reduced trailer parking. Entry is $8 per vehicle plus 50 cents per person, and the park is open 8 a.m. to sunset every day of the year. On a busy weekend, finding a trailer space may be harder than getting the boat in the water.

On the Key Largo side, the other county option is Mike Forster Memorial Park at 20 Sunset Road. It used to be Sunset Point Park, and the county renamed it after commissioner Mike Forster, who died on Sept. 6, 2021. Keys Weekly described the ramp as small, with only a few trailer spaces. It suits a quick morning launch better than a full Saturday with a crowd.

Fees there may change. On Dec. 10, 2025, Monroe County said commissioners had told staff to draft code changes that could allow nonresident parking and ramp fees at Mike Forster and other parks. Residents would keep free access. No fee amount has been published for Mike Forster. Visiting family members who tow their own boats should check the county's current rules before they head to the ramp.

Harry Harris Park in Tavernier has the largest setup of the group. The county lists a deep-water ramp, a maximum vehicle-and-trailer length of 55 feet, and 20 first-come, first-served day-use trailer spaces. Local residents are free from admission. Nonresidents pay $15 per vehicle, plus a $40 ramp fee on regular weekends or $60 on county holidays, including the weekend days next to them and the two-day lobster mini-season. If your boat doesn't fit Mike Forster's few trailer spaces, Harry Harris is the realistic choice while Pennekamp's lot is short.

Harry Harris has its own long-range plans. The county's "resilient redesign" ideas include rebuilding the swimming-area jetty, strengthening shoreline protection, adding a waterfront boardwalk and raising structures when they need major repair. A county presentation dated March 4, 2026 described the project as conceptual planning backed by a $200,000 DEP grant, with no construction dates. No closure has been announced for Harry Harris. The construction cycle at Rowell's and Pennekamp could eventually reach it too.

The Pump-Out Gap

The pump-out closure gets less attention, but it affects anyone who keeps a boat with a holding tank. Pennekamp's station has been closed since July 22. On The Hook Marine runs a mobile pump-out service across the Keys at 305-833-1978. Service is free for eligible vessels at anchor in designated areas. Docked, moored and commercial vessels pay a fee. Its Key Largo free-service areas include:

• Tarpon Basin and Buttonwood Sound
• Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise
• The Pennekamp Mooring Field
• Rodriguez Key

Service outside those approved anchorages may cost extra. If you usually stopped at the Pennekamp dock on the way home, call ahead and schedule the boat instead.

A Slice After a Long Saturday

If your launch moves south toward Tavernier, you'll pass something new on the way back. Coast to Coast Pizza Company opened on Sept. 14 at 99625 Overseas Highway. It serves New York, Detroit and Sicilian-style pizzas, with slices and individual pies. It's the one change on this fall's map that has nothing to do with construction.

December is the next date on the calendar. That's when Rowell's Phase 2 is expected to finish and the new dog park, lighting and expanded parking should open. The Pennekamp ramp and trailer lot still have no published reopening date.

Living on the water here means knowing which ramp, which lot and which service will work on a given Saturday. Our team at Sally Stribling has been in the Upper Keys since the 1970s and tracks these changes the same way our clients do. If you want to talk about dock access, launching or what these park projects mean for your stretch of Key Largo, Let's Connect.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.