West Palm Beach Waterfront and Streets Reopen After Boat Show Closures

Nearly a month of traffic and pedestrian delays caused by the boat show setup and breakdown have come to an end.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:04am

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The city of West Palm Beach has reopened South Flagler Drive and the waterfront area after nearly a month of closures due to the setup and breakdown of the annual boat show. The closures had caused significant traffic and pedestrian disruptions for local residents.

Why it matters

The boat show is a major economic driver for West Palm Beach, but the extended street and waterfront closures have had a significant impact on the daily lives of downtown residents, making it difficult for them to access the area and move around freely.

The details

Northbound South Flagler Drive from Lakeview Avenue to Banyan Boulevard reopened on Friday, April 6, with the remainder of the street from Lakeview Avenue to Fern Street set to open on Monday, April 8. The Green Market also returned on Saturday. For weeks, the area had been blocked off with chain-link fences, heavy equipment, and traffic cones, making it nearly unbearable for some residents and unwalkable for others.

  • On April 6, northbound South Flagler Drive from Lakeview Avenue to Banyan Boulevard reopened.
  • On April 8, the remainder of South Flagler Drive from Lakeview Avenue to Fern Street will reopen.
  • The Green Market returned on Saturday, April 7.

The players

West Palm Beach

The city where the annual boat show is held, causing extended street and waterfront closures that have disrupted the daily lives of local residents.

Todd Bucey

A downtown West Palm Beach resident who has avoided driving and walking in the area during the boat show closures.

Neil Olmstead

A downtown West Palm Beach resident who has been frustrated by the inability to walk on the waterfront during the boat show closures.

Nick Lyons

A downtown West Palm Beach resident who has lived in the area for six years and has experienced the chaos caused by the boat show closures.

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What they’re saying

“I definitely don't drive down here during those those times. And then I know that it does affect the walking, so I do stay away from it.”

— Todd Bucey, Resident

“I think it's just annoying not being able to walk on the waterfront. That's one of the reasons that I live here.”

— Neil Olmstead, Resident

“We'll walk down the street (and find a) dead end, have to walk all the way back, go back down (and find another) dead end, and it just kind of creates a lot of chaos for us. So I love the boat show, but it is such a big project that it creates a lot of hassle for the locals.”

— Nick Lyons, Resident

What’s next

The city of West Palm Beach will continue to monitor the situation and work to minimize the impact of future boat show events on local residents and businesses.

The takeaway

While the boat show is an important economic driver for West Palm Beach, the extended street and waterfront closures have had a significant impact on the daily lives of downtown residents. The city will need to find ways to balance the needs of the boat show with the needs of the local community to ensure that future events cause minimal disruption.