Mayor Teresa Heitmann: Naples Pier is 'not gone,' but heavily damaged

The iconic Naples Pier is "not gone."

However, it did sustain "extensive damage" from Hurricane Ian, said Mayor Teresa Heitmann, seeking to clear up a rumor of its total destruction.

She shared the news during a community update on the impacts of the powerful storm on Thursday afternoon.

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While the pier isn't destroyed, it will be "closed for an indefinite period of time," Heitmann said.

City residents shouldn't just avoid the pier, but the public beach accesses, which are unsafe, due to downed power lines.

They should be reopening much sooner.

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City manager Jay Boodheshwar pledged to get them open "as soon as we can."

The Pier was originally built in 1888.

The city has rebuilt the popular attraction several times due to hurricanes, dating as far back as 1926.

It was last restored three years after getting slammed by Hurricane Irma.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Pier in Florida heavily damaged after Hurricane Ian