The goal of the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency is the betterment of the Merritt Island central business district. The Agency plans and oversees the orderly development of public improvements in conjunction with County and State agencies.

Merritt Park Place Infrastructure Improvements Project

The Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency has developed a comprehensive infrastructure improvements plan for the Merritt Park Place Area. This plan has been divided into three phases which can be reviewed via this web page.

Facade Improvements Program

A pilot Facade Improvements Program has been created by the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency to assist business and property owners in the Merritt Island Redevelopment Area to aesthetically improve their buildings.

Pepper Busting Complete on State Road 520

Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc. has completed the eradication of Brazilian Pepper Trees along SR 520.  The Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency (MIRA), in an effort to beautify State Road 520, in the area of Sykes Creek Parkway continuing along SR 520 until entering Cocoa Beach, arranged for this project starting in December 2006 and finishing the first week in January 2007.  SR 520 had become very unsightly because of its overgrowth, and the waterfront was no longer visible. In addition, Brazilian pepper trees are invasive exotics – they grow rapidly and tend to choke out not only native plants in their vicinity, but also animals that depend on the native plants for their survival.

Peppers were eradicated utilizing a combination of hand-held tools, machinery and herbicide.  KBB has also agreed to assume responsibility for removing any new pepper trees that would propagate in the SR 520 area for the next two years.

In order to ensure that none of the valuable native vegetation was harmed or disturbed, KBB also had trained and qualified staff onsite every day to oversee the project.

Because Brazilian pepper trees are a highly invasive species, MIRA was enthused about partnering with KBB on this endeavor.  Below are examples of SR 520 before and after the eradication of the pepper trees.