The Living Seawall Launches
150 Attended The Church by the Sea BBQ Launching Florida’s Largest Living Seawall Project and Honoring Veterans
For immediate release:
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (May 26, 2025) — On Sunday, May 25, The Church by the Sea welcomed 150 guests to its annual Memorial Day weekend cookout, a heartfelt gathering to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and to launch a new chapter in community-led environmental restoration.
The centerpiece of the event was the official kickoff of The Church by the Sea’s Living Seawall Project— a bold and hopeful project designed to protect and restore South Florida’s waterways through science, sustainability and shared stewardship.
Dr. David Finneran, who leads the scientific direction of the project and delivered the featured presentation, captured the spirit of the initiative early on, stating:
This isn’t just about building a wall — it’s about creating a living system that cleans the water, supports marine life and educates the community. Our goal is to demonstrate what’s possible when we align science, design and local stewardship.”
Following a 10 a.m. worship service, guests gathered for a BBQ celebration and a short video presentation outlining the vision and future impact of the Living Seawall.
The project — now entering its fundraising and permitting phase — nearly three football fields long, will span 860 feet using Miami tech startup Kind Designs’ mangrove-root-inspired seawall panels. Once completed, it will be the largest Living Seawall installation in Florida, designed to filter pollutants, foster marine biodiversity and set a new standard for environmentally responsible shoreline protection.
The completed project is designed to house 500,000 oysters, each capable of filtering up to 50 gallons of water per day — turning the wall into a living, breathing system that works around the clock to clean Fort Lauderdale’s intracoastal waters.
The city has expressed enthusiastic support for the initiative. In the days leading up to the event, Marco Aguilera, Fort Lauderdale’s chief waterways officer, visited The Church by the Sea to learn more about the project and discuss its potential to improve urban water quality and inspire broader change across the region.
Mayor Dean Trantalis, in a statement of support, shared, “This is exactly the kind of grassroots innovation Fort Lauderdale needs. I applaud The Church by the Sea and its partners for leading by example and investing in the future of our waterways.”
Commissioner Ben Sorensen added, “The Living Seawall is not just an environmental upgrade — it’s a destination for learning and inspiration. Once completed, it will feature a public viewing platform where residents and students can come see the wall up close and learn about the power of nature to heal itself. It will be a place to look, learn and hopefully inspire others to choose living seawalls when replacing their own.”
By aligning with Memorial Day weekend, the launch underscored a powerful message: that honoring those who came before us includes protecting what lies ahead. The Living Seawall Initiative is both a tribute and a commitment — to cleaner water, responsible innovation and a community willing to lead by doing.
To learn more, contribute, or follow the progress of the Living Seawall Initiative, please visit www.livingseawall.org.
To learn more, contribute, or follow the progress of the Living Seawall Initiative, please visit www.livingseawall.org.
Video: 2-Minute Overview
Video: 1-Minute Overview
Dr. David Finneran, PhD
Scientific Director, Living Seawall Project
Contact: Dr. David Finneran
Telephone: 954-858-6477
Email: finneran@livingseawall.org