Exploring renovations at Lake Worth's beach

Adirondack chairs line up to face the ocean.

Finally after nearly 30 years of talk, Lake Worth is busy renovating buildings along its beachfront.

Sunday, I loaded my dog in my car to check out the renovations to Lake Worth's storied casino building and other restoration work underway in the multimillion-dollar project. I wanted to see how my tax dollars are being spent. But I also needed to get in a morning walk with my dog. So the trip to the beach filled two purposes, my new definition of multi-tasking. Here's what I saw:

1. Lower parking lot still a construction zone. I parked here in order to get the most steps on that Sunday morning. We drove onto an unpaved road into the parking lot and had to dodge cars and pickups on our walk up to the beach.

Fisherman selects his gear.

2. Despite the construction, fishing and surfing still draw people to the beach. The die-hard fishing crowd was out in force on that sunny Sunday morning. They pulled coolers on wheels while holding fishing rods and bait sacks to get onto the William O. Lockhart Municipal Pier. It was nearing a perfect time for fishing, according to the Solunar Tables for the day. (Benny's on the Beach restaurant on the pier remained open during the construction.)

Surfers, wearing wet suits, lugged their surfboards in and out of traffic as they hurried to the beach to catch some waves. It was just after high tide when we arrived.

Surfers prepare in the lower parking lot.

3. Mulligan's Beach House Bar & Grill is open! Yes, it's really true. The famed Stuart-based restaurant chain opened last month in the spot formerly occupied by John G's, which is now open in nearby Manalapan. Mulligan's offers two choice for dining: inside and away from the weather, or al fresco  dining on its wrap-around veranda.

I'm not sure whether the colorful Adirondack chairs are part of Mulligan's, but their line-up gave a perfect oceanfront view. (I made a mental note to return some morning to sip a latte and watch the sun rise.)

4. Playground will be ready soon. A nifty play area near the ocean was created, but it is still fenced off and its equipment is under wraps.

Playground under wraps

5. The walk around the beachfront took 30 minutes. But I did stop often to take pictures and absorb the scene. It also added 1.2 miles or 2,423 steps to my daily walking total.

When the southeastern portion is ready early next year, I'll go back to the beach for another walking progress report. But I will try to get to Mulligan's before the restoration work is finished and the crowds come.

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, when I walked:

Steps: 10,361

Miles: 5.2