The planned Wavegarden surf park at Koa Bay, west of Fort Pierce, could become a data center and commercial retail hub instead.
Here's what to know
As reported by TCPalm, a June 17, 2026 rezoning filing seeks to revisit the surf park plans that were approved in 2020. Koa Bay was first planned around a Wavegarden surf park, with the site meant to become a destination built on artificial waves and nearby commercial activity.
Pending rezoning approval, the property would shift away from a recreation-driven concept toward a mix of retail development and digital infrastructure.
More background
The proposed change reflects a broader trend in many fast-growing areas, where land once set aside for entertainment or lifestyle projects is now being considered for data infrastructure.
As demand for cloud computing and other online services rises, developers are looking for large sites with room for buildings, power access, and future expansion.
AI is closely tied to the energy grid because the data centers supporting those tools often require enormous amounts of electricity and, in some cases, large volumes of water for cooling. At the same time, AI can also help utilities forecast demand, improve maintenance planning, and better integrate solar and wind power.
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What's being done?
The rezoning process gives local officials and the public a formal opportunity to decide whether a data center and retail hub make more sense for the site than the previously approved surf park concept.
If the proposal moves ahead, major questions will likely focus on how much electricity and water the project could require, what transportation upgrades may be needed, and how the development fits with the area's growth plans. In Florida and around the country, proposed facilities are already prompting pushback over water use, grid strain, and the speed of new development.
Data centers can bring investment and business activity, but they also require careful infrastructure planning.
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