The Gulf Islands Ferry is now operating between two named piers, as Bradenton has christened its riverfront dock the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier.
The Bradenton City Council approved the name in July, acting on a request from the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
So now, the Gulf Islands Ferry, funded and operated by Manatee County, will run between the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier and the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. A third stop, at the Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria, has not existed since Hurricane Helene wiped out the walkway to the docking area in September 2024.
Bradenton said its goal with the naming of the pier was to improve wayfinding for visitors, strengthen the area’s brand identity and promote the downtown waterfront as a cultural and recreational destination.
“The Riverwalk is a major part of what makes our downtown so special, and renaming the pier helps tie it more closely to the heart of the city,” Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said in a July 23 news release. “We appreciate the support of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in helping us strengthen our identity, enhance the waterfront, and make downtown Bradenton even more welcoming for residents and visitors.”
A Bradenton Riverwalk Pier sign and improvements to the pier will be funded through the county BACVB.
“The Bradenton Riverwalk Pier is a vital gateway connecting downtown to Anna Maria Island,” said Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique, R-District 3. “This pier anchors our commitment to sustainable, multimodal public transportation, tourism and the economic vitality of the entire region.”
Siddique said the ferry service has removed at least 20,000 cars from roads since its launch in early 2024, “making it a clear win in positively impacting traffic concerns, environmental health, and smarter regional mobility.”