Anna Maria Island beaches to remain open on Fourth of July weekend. Officials urge caution

Amid a statewide surge in COVID-19 cases, several South Florida counties have opted to close beaches this holiday weekend to prevent massive crowds from gathering.

Beaches on Anna Maria Island will remain open for the Fourth of July, according to local officials.

However, they stress that members of the public need to take safety measures seriously to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus.

“Residents and visitors of our beaches should continue to practice social distancing when out in public,” said Manatee County Director of Public Safety Jake Saur in an email. “When they are unable to socially distance from others, they should wear a mask both indoors and outdoors.”

Meanwhile, the town of Longboat Key on Tuesday morning announced effective immediately it was closing all public beach access parking locations; the Quick Point and Overlook Parking access; and the public restrooms at Bayfront & Joan M. Durant Park.

Two of the cities on Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, now require face coverings inside of businesses and public buildings.

The moves are in line with guidance from health care officials who are unanimous in recommending wearing a mask as a way to minimize spreading of COVID-19. A mask is considered the single most effective way of stopping the virus, which can be spread through droplets released by talking, sneezing or coughing.

Beach visitors should come prepared with a mask, Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer said.

“This is a health and safety thing,” Tokajer said. “Most people are in line with realizing that the numbers in Manatee County are going up. We have to do everything we can to stop the spread.”

Those who violate the Holmes Beach emergency ordinance face fines of $250 to $500, and the Anna Maria emergency order can be enforced with a $50 fine. At the south end of the island, Bradenton Beach officials have not sought a mask mandate, but the city remains under a local state of emergency due to COVID-19.

In addition to the mask requirements, visitors to Anna Maria Island may want to plan on some extra time to find parking.

Holmes Beach recently reduced public street parking in residential areas by 1,100 spaces. Tokajer said that parking violations will be enforced over the holiday weekend with citations and possible towing.

Anna Maria created temporary no-parking zones in April to prevent crowding near Bean Point that took away about 80 spaces. The spaces are gradually being restored, Mayor Dan Murphy told the Bradenton Herald last week.

There is a permanent ban on right-of-way parking in Bradenton Beach, and parking there is largely limited to Bridge Street and county-operated lots at Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach.

Tokajer said that holiday beachgoers should also be aware that alcohol and fireworks are prohibited on the public beaches, and grilling is only allowed in designated areas.

Extra officers will be patrolling the sands, according to Tokajer, as well as Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the horse-mounted unit.

Public beaches on Anna Maria Island are currently open from sunrise to 10 p.m.

Manatee County leaders decided to temporarily close beaches in March only after surrounding counties made the move first, citing concerns that Anna Maria Island might see an influx of visitors from those areas.

So far, no other counties have announced holiday beach closures outside of Monroe, Broward and Miami-Dade in South Florida. In Collier County, commissioners voted Tuesday to limit holiday beach hours and parking.

Going into the weekend, Saur said that Manatee County government will continue to push COVID-19-related safety messages out to the public.

“As the holiday weekend begins, a lot of people will want to visit our beaches and other places on the island,” Saur wrote. “Please remember COVID-19 is still very prevalent in our community and now more than ever, residents should take all precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

For those looking to avoid the beach crowds altogether, a visit to a county park or preserve is another option for some fresh air and sunshine this weekend.

This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 6:51 AM.