Public beaches are about to reopen on Anna Maria Island. Parking could be a challenge

County-operated parking access to public beaches on Anna Maria Island will reopen on Monday with restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We want people to come and enjoy themselves at our life-guarded beaches, but they need to remember social distancing guidelines and they should be respectful of other people who want to visit the beach,” Manatee County beach patrol chief Joe Westerman said in a press release.

And don’t expect to stay too long.

Starting Monday, public parking will be available at the three county-operated beaches on Anna Maria Island — Coquina, Cortez and Manatee Public — from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, according to Manatee County.

Parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Drivers will be issued a parking pass that is good for two hours when they arrive at the parking lot, according to the county, as well as a reminder to maintain social distance from others. Those who overstay the two-hour limit will be subject to a parking citation and fine.

“The limit will allow visitors to enjoy the sun, sand and water for a reasonable amount of time while allowing others to visit the beach throughout the day,” county spokesman Nicholas Azzara said in a press release.

Coquina Beach will have approximately 400 parking spots available, Cortez Beach will have approximately 200 parking spots and Manatee Beach will have space for about 250 vehicles.

“Typical beach activities” and beach gear will be permitted, according to the county.

While the county-owned parking lots are reopening, restrictions will remain in place for beach access operated by Anna Maria Island municipalities.

“The decision by Manatee County Commission to open the Manatee Beach parking lot with a two-hour parking limit beginning on May 4th has nothing to do with the parking for the city of Holmes Beach,” Holmes Beach police chief William L. Tokajer said in a press release.

The city’s current ban on street parking, right-of-way parking and and beach access parking will continue, Tokajer said, and illegally parked vehicles will be towed.

“If you are not parked in the driveway for the place you are staying, you are parked illegally and could be towed,” the release continued.

The city of Anna Maria has also limited beach access parking due to COVID-19. The city of Bradenton Beach did not allow on-street parking within its city limits before the pandemic.

Who should go out?

The beach reopenings coincide with Gov. Ron DeSantis’s decision to begin the first phase of a plan to “reopen” Florida issued via executive order on Wednesday.

The order advises that “All persons in Florida shall continue to limit their personal interactions outside the home,” but allows for many businesses and public service providers to reopen at partial capacity.

Also included in the order is guidance that people at high risk from COVID-19 continue to stay home and “take all measures to limit the risk of exposure” to the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define high-risk individuals as:

▪ People 65 years and older.

▪ People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility.

People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including.

▪ People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma.

▪ People who have serious heart conditions.

▪ People who are immunocompromised (Conditions that can cause a person to be immunocompromised include cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications, according to the CDC.).

▪ People with severe obesity (body mass index of 40 or higher).

▪ People with diabetes.

▪ People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.

▪ People with liver disease.

Sarasota County beaches

Public parking access at beaches operated by Sarasota County will also reopen on Monday, May 4.

Chairs, coolers and canopies will be allowed.

Restrooms will be open, but concessions, playgrounds, amenities and picnic shelters will remain closed, according to the county’s website.

“With other coastal communities reopening their beaches, there’s less of a concern of an influx of out-of-county beachgoers,” an update from Sarasota County said. “Social distancing guidelines still apply: Keep groups to 10 or less and and maintain at least 6 feet between groups.”

This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 4:09 PM.