Not every flood fix is a pump or a seawall. In St. Augustine’s Court Theophelia neighborhood, part of the answer is plants.
What was built
Hoodline reported in September 2026, citing the city, that the $4,855,777 Court Theophelia project was finished. Its centerpiece is a bioswale planter along Bannan Avenue: engineered soil and native, Florida-friendly plants that filter street runoff before it reaches the drainage system. The project also replaced aging water mains and gravity sewer lines, added a pedestrian walkway to Fullerwood Park, and converted Bannan Avenue to a one-way street.
How it was paid for
The work was fully funded through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Florida grant program. The city scheduled a ribbon-cutting on Bannan Avenue for September 18, 2026.
Early results
Jessica Beach, St. Augustine’s chief resilience officer, said the drainage improvements were “already functioning as intended during local rains.” Court Theophelia is one of three resiliency projects the city outlined in 2026, along with the Inlet Drive shoreline work and the Avenida Menendez seawall.
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Questions and answers
What is a bioswale?
A planted channel of engineered soil and native plants that filters street runoff before it reaches the drainage system.
How much did the Court Theophelia project cost?
$4,855,777, fully funded by the Resilient Florida grant program.
What else did the project include?
New water mains and sewer lines, a walkway to Fullerwood Park and a one-way Bannan Avenue.
This article is general information drawn from the sources listed below. It is not professional, legal, insurance or restoration advice. DIY-DRY is an equipment rental company.
Sources
- Hoodline, “St. Augustine Court Theophelia Flood Project Complete”, Sept. 10, 2026 – hoodline.com
- City of St. Augustine, “City of St. Augustine advances resiliency and infrastructure improvement projects”, Apr. 7, 2026 – citystaug.com