CROW Breaks Ground on New Harkey Sea Turtle Rehab Complex

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Construction of the new Harkey Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Complex at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is underway by the Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. of Southwest Florida. It’s expected to be completed by late 2025.

The Harkey Sea Turtle Complex will feature four advanced oval rehabilitation tanks with specialized life support systems and a unique fly-away tank for hatchlings. Expanded spaces will also support long-term care, research, and educational outreach for marine wildlife conservation.

The 2,620-square-foot facility is replacing the original turtle care building, destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, and is the only licensed sea turtle rehabilitation center between Sarasota and the Florida Keys.

“The Harkey Sea Turtle Complex will allow us to care for more sea turtles with greater efficiency and expertise, while also expanding our capacity for research and education,” said CROW Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey.

The project is funded in part by a $1.2 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and a significant gift from longtime CROW supporters Bill and Laurie Harkey.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Harkeys, our project partners, and our community for helping turn this vision into a reality,” said Hussey.

Chase Harrison, Project Manager  O-A-K, left, Tammy Kaminski, Senior Project Manager Colliers (Southeast Project Management & Development Services), Rory Connors, Architect, Architecture Joyce Owens Studio AJO; Alison Charney Hussey, Executive Director CROW; Bill Harkey and Laurie Harkey, Donors;  Paul Ben-Susan, Board President, CROW

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on World Sea Turtle Day, marking a significant milestone for marine wildlife conservation along the Gulf Coast.

“Owen-Ames-Kimball is honored to help rebuild this vital facility,” said Matthew Zwack, President of Owen-Ames-Kimball Florida.

“This project is not just about construction — it’s about restoring hope after Hurricane Ian and supporting CROW’s conservation efforts that make our region so special,” he said. “We’re proud to partner with CROW to protect these incredible animals and the environment they call home.”

In addition to Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. as the construction manager, the project team includes Colliers Development Services as the project management representative, Joyce Owens Architecture as the architect, and ALSI Life Support Systems for aquatic tank design and engineering.