CAPE CORAL, Fla. — It is a landmark day for a Southwest Florida landmark; Riverside Beach is open at the Cape Coral Yacht Club for the first time since Hurricane Ian.

“Having this open is the best thing in the world for everybody,” resident Lisa Zaboklicki said.

It’s been a long 13 months for Cape Coral residents. Zabokicki was the first to step into the sand Thursday morning.

“Since Ian, I haven’t been able to do that or walk the beach,” she said.

She couldn’t wait to dip her toes back into the water at the Riverside Beach.

“All the closed signs are gone, and the fences are down to me. The beach is open.”

The beach and the yacht club were closed due to hurricane damage.

“This area of our city was the hardest hit,” Mayor John Gunter said. “It looked like a war zone, so when you look around today, even though it does not look as good as we want it to look, I can tell you it looks ten times better.”

Although construction surrounds the beach, it’s not stopping anyone from relaxing with their toes in the sand now.

“Our beach is spectacular with all the new sand in the palm trees,” Zabokicki said.

Although the beach officially reopens tomorrow, some couldn’t wait any longer.

But more updates are coming. Beachgoers will be hearing construction sounds mixed with waves for some time.

“December or the beginning of January, we will start to demolish the building and all the additional site work that is still left but still in disrepair,” City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said.

The city is considering building a parking garage, a second pier, another restaurant, and a resort-style pool.

“Seawall that needs to be replaced,” City Councilman Bill Steinke said. “The docks that need to be replaced. We keep our eye on the permitting process daily.”