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Tag: Coquina Beach

Public hearing held for proposed Longboat Pass Bridge construction

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials who viewed a recent Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) presentation expressed their concerns that the proposed new bridge to be built over Longboat Pass has the potential to worsen the traffic flow at the south end of Bradenton Beach.

The Longboat Pass Bridge extends from the south end of Bradenton Beach to the north end of Longboat Key and serves as the primary point of access to and from the north end of Longboat Key. The current bridge is nearly 70 years old.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted an in-person PD&E study public hearing at the Christ Church of Longboat Key on Thursday, March 12. FDOT hosted a similar virtual online hearing on Tuesday, March 17.

During the hearings, FDOT officials presented information about the state agency’s preferred alternative to the existing drawbridge. FDOT plans to replace the existing Longboat Pass Bridge with a 78-foot-high fixed span bridge. 

According to the presentation, “The need for the proposed improvements to State Road 789 includes addressing the structural integrity of the existing bridge, enhancing multi-modal mobility and improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities and emergency evacuation and response times.”

The presentation shared during the public hearings states: “The current driveway at the Coquina Beach South entrance will be shifted approximately 500 feet to the north and will still be accessible from northbound and southbound traffic. In addition, the current driveway at the Coquina Beach South entrance will become an underpass underneath the proposed bridge and will give recreational access to the bay side (the east side) of SR 789 for both northbound and southbound traffic.” 

Having viewed the presentation, Mayor John Chappie shared his concerns during the March 19 city commission meeting.

“One of the things that caught my eye was with the south boat ramps. They’re funneling all the traffic to get in and out of there to the west side of Gulf Drive, then you have to go to the exit,” Chappie said. “I think that could be a problem with those trailers on the back of trucks making these turns and maneuvering and then having to wait and come in on Gulf Drive.” 

Chappie said he could see traffic backups worsening in that scenario. 

Having viewed the presentation, Commissioner Scott Bear said, “Part of what they’re doing is they’re funneling all of the traffic to the two access points and the vehicles trailering boats out have to cross the southbound lane. Not only is it going to cause problems with the northbound side, it is going to shut down the southbound side as well.”

Bear, a former engineer, said he suggested to the project managers the addition of an acceleration lane to help traffic merge.

“They hadn’t thought about that. They’re going to go back and look at it and provide some input to the city as to whether that’s even possible,” Bear said. “We still have multiple opportunities to speak to them because they’ll have to come forward with design meetings.”

Bear said as the plans stand now there could be a worse traffic problem in that area than what exists today. 

“They’re pushing the bridge further to the north so that they can get underneath with the boats. You would have to turn right onto the current beach access inside the park and then get into one of the exits,” Bear said. “The current exit that’s there on the boat ramp, they’ve moved that 500 feet north. This will not fix traffic and will potentially make it worse.”

The fixed-span bridge would be high enough for most recreational vessels to pass underneath it. – FDOT | Submitted

The proposed bridge will begin at North Shore Road in Longboat Key and extend approximately one mile to the north.

“As proposed, the recommended alternative will require permanent use of approximately 0.23 acres of property from the Coquina Bayside Park and boat ramp to accommodate a maintenance easement,” according to the presentation.

Subsequent project phases include design, public right-of-way easements and construction.

According to the FDOT project website, “At this time, FDOT’s adopted five-year work program includes funding for the next phase of the project design in fiscal year 2026. There is no private right-of-way acquisition needed for this project. Currently there is no funding for construction.”

According to the FDOT presentation, “The Longboat Pass Bridge was rehabilitated in 2005, but the original structure was built in 1957. Based on a February 2024 FDOT bridge inspection report, the bridge received a sufficiency rating of 42 on a scale of 0-100. Anything under 50 qualifies a bridge for replacement funding.”

More project details can be viewed at the project website.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Holiday.

Story and photos contributed by Lance Roy | Special to the Sun

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Labor Day weekend on Anna Maria Island usually means umbrellas in the sand, music floating from beachside patios and parking lots packed with families hauling coolers to the shoreline.

But this Sunday, the Gulf had other plans. From sunrise onward, the skies seemed to empty without pause, with steady sheets of rain, heavy at times, falling in a rhythm as familiar as waves breaking on the shore.

The downpour softened now and then, even teasing a glimpse of blue sky, but never quite surrendered.

At Manatee Beach, in Holmes Beach, families reluctantly packed up early, darting from the café patio to their cars between bursts of rain. Some stayed put under the overhangs, turning the weather into an excuse for another round of fries or ice cream cones.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
Anna Maria Island Beach Café customers took shelter from the rain. – Lance Roy | Submitted

County lifeguards kept a watchful eye with yellow flags waving at their towers as lightning offshore turned the Gulf into a look-but-don’t-touch scene.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
This stretch of beach was empty at one point on Sunday. – Lance Roy | Submitted

Further south, the scene was quieter still. At Cortez Beach, in Bradenton Beach, the usual clusters of beachgoers gave way to empty chairs, collapsed tents and only a handful of determined surf fishermen. Among them, a couple recently relocated from Pennsylvania grinned through the drizzle, calling it “a blessing” to live close enough to wet a line whenever the mood struck – rain or shine.

Over at Coquina Beach, at the south end of the Island, families made the best of it, taking shelter under picnic shelters and canopy tents, with their laughter and music competing with the steady patter of raindrops.

A Bradenton Beach police officer described the day as “calm, quiet, almost too easy,” as he monitored light traffic along Gulf Drive South.

Bridge Street merchants noticed the shift too. A burst of shoppers wandered in earlier than usual, ducking away from the storms. While business owners would have preferred sunny skies to cap off ‘summer’ with a final holiday surge, most were thankful for steady support from locals and visitors alike.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
For some folks, the rainy day activities included strolling and shopping on Bridge Street. – Lance Roy | Submitted

And true to the Island spirit, the gray weather couldn’t wash away the sound of live music at the Bridge Tender Inn and the Drift-In, while Island Time Bar & Grill buzzed with the sound of fans watching football and baseball games over cold drinks.

As late afternoon gave way to early evening, the rain let up, the sun came out and many beachgoers found their way to the Gulf shoreline to enjoy their rain-delayed holiday beach time.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
The beach activities resumed when the sun came out. – Lance Roy | Submitted

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
By day’s end, the Island skies turned sunny. – Lance Roy | Submitted

In the end, Anna Maria Island proved what locals already know: rain or shine, the Island always finds a way to charm. The skies may have been gloomy, but Anna Maria Island’s holiday spirit never really left the beach.

Winnie released at Coquina Beach

Winnie released at Coquina Beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

BRADENTON BEACH – Hundreds of onlookers gathered at Coquina Beach on Monday morning for a scheduled loggerhead sea turtle release.

The turtle, Winnie, did not disappoint as she made her way to the water. She stopped several times and lifted her head to look at the crowd of delighted specta­tors gathering around her.

Winnie laid her nest early Monday morning on Coquina Beach and was outfitted with a satellite tag.

Winnie released at Coquina Beach
Loggerhead sea turtle Winnie, outfitted with a satellite monitor, waited in an enclosure before making her way to the water. – Leslie Lake | Sun

She was released from an enclosure by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers and slowly made her way toward the water. She hesitated before reach­ing the water, requiring a gentle nudge to keep going. Once she touched water, she was off and swimming.

Winnie released at Coquina Beach
Nesting loggerhead sea turtle Winnie made her way to the water at a scheduled sea turtle release at Coquina Beach on Monday. – Leslie Lake – Sun

Winnie will participate in the Sea Turtle Conservancy-sponsored Tour de Turtles race, which begins on Aug. 1 and measures how far and where participating turtles swim during the event.

Winnie released at Coquina Beach
Winnie required a bit of coaxing to enter the water from Hurricane Hanks owner Brian Mathae at a scheduled sea turtle release at Coquina Beach on Monday. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Her participation is sponsored by Turtle Watch and Holmes Beach restaurant Hurricane Hank’s. She was named Winnie in honor of the Canadian hometown of Hank’s owner, Brian Mathae, which is Winnipeg.

Winnie’s progress can be monitored weekly at www. sandedeveloper.com/.

Bradenton Beach commissioners discuss beach hole ordinance

Bradenton Beach commissioners discuss beach hole ordinance

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City com­missioners discussed the current city ordinance prohibiting the digging of holes on public beaches at the June 5 meeting.

“This was brought up by (Manatee County Natural Resources Director) Charlie Hunsicker a couple of weeks ago at the coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting,” Mayor John Chappie said.

Holmes Beach has since passed a city ordinance prohibiting digging holes on beaches within the city’s limits.

“One of the things that was brought up to me is that it would be nice to have all of the three cities with a very similar if not the same ordinance,” Chappie said. “People don’t know when they’re crossing into different cities.”

The Holmes Beach ordinance pro­hibits removal of sand or shell and digging on the beach and states in part, “No person shall possess on or about the sandy Gulf beach a metal shovel of the type customarily sold in a hardware store (not a children’s toy) unless part of a (permitted) construction project.”

Chappie said the Bradenton Beach prohibition does not apply to kids digging with small beach shovels but is intended to prevent injuries to people and entrapment of sea turtles caused by larger holes.

“This is dealing with having big garden shovels out there or as somebody phrased it, as ‘an over­excited father with his kids digging a huge hole’ and then they don’t fill them back in and somebody could trip and get hurt,” he said.

Chappie said he recently received an email from a man who wrote that his wife was in the hospital after falling into a large hole at the beach.

“She hurt herself pretty badly apparently, so I think it is needed,” he said.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the city already has a city ordinance on the books which prohibits digging on the beaches and beach accesses.

Perry referred to Sec. 46-36 – Removal of Natural Re­sources – under city ordinance number 08-404 which has been in place since 2008.

“No person in a park shall dig, remove or displace any beach sand, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, stone, tree, shrub or plant, down timber or other wood or material, or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means or agency,” that section states.

The ordinance states, “Park means a park, golf course, playground, beach, recre­ational center or any other area in the city, owned or used by the city, and devoted to active or passive recreation.”

“If you look at it, I don’t see the need to do anything more,” Perry said. “We have something on the books that prevents this from happening.”

The 2008 Bradenton Beach ordinance doesn’t limit or specify the depth of a hole that can be dug in the beach sand. The Manatee County, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria ordinances limit the depth of a hole dug in the beach sand to 1 foot.

Penalties and enforcement

“If a code enforcement officer from the county or somebody from the city is around at the right time and place, that’s when enforcement is going to happen, but our guys are not going to be out there looking for it,” Chappie said.

Commissioner Scott Bear asked if the city could assess fines for violations.

Perry said there is nothing in Holmes Beach’s proposed ordinance that provides for fines but said she and Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby have been discussing city-wide penalties and modifications as they relate to code enforcement and traffic violations.

“If you don’t write it in the ordinance then it’s subject to difficulty applying a penalty for it,” Perry said. “The penalty that’s in the code that’s applicable is any person violating the provisions of this article shall be subject to expulsion from the park.”

She said the city has concurrent jurisdiction on the beaches with Manatee County.

“If they (Manatee County) have an ordinance with a fine associated with it, then we can have that particular fine be applicable,” Perry said.

A person convicted of violation of this code could receive a fine of not more than $500, she said.

“The way I see this, the city could issue a ticket like we do with turtle lighting issues and some other irreversible harm and add this to the ticket book for removal of sand, but it can’t exceed $500 per incident.”

Cosby said city fines and possible increases will be discussed at a Wednesday, June 25 city budget meeting.

Related coverage:
Anna Maria adopting ordinance prohibiting beach holes
Beach hole concerns deepen

 

Beach hole concerns deepen

Beach hole concerns deepen

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Deeply-dug beach holes, and using metal shovels to dig those holes, are becoming a major concern on Anna Maria Island’s beaches; and county officials are asking the three Island cities to adopt local ordinances to help address the problem.

Manatee County Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker expressed his concerns about unfilled beach holes when giving a presentation to the Holmes Beach mayor and city commissioners on May 13. He plans to make similar presentations to the Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach mayors and commissioners and he hopes all three cities will adopt ordinances that mirror a county ordinance adopted within the past year or so.

Beach hole concerns deepen
Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker addressed the Holmes Beach City Commission. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the removal of natural resources, County Ordinance 23-121 states: “No person shall dig, damage, remove, displace or destroy any beach sand, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, stone, tree, shrub or plant, or down-timber or other wood or material, or excavate by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means without first obtaining a permit from the director. Exception is made for the building of sandcastles or other sand sculptures, except that the sand used for such activities must not be moved from the general vicinity of its source. The area must be returned to its original state after use.”

In regard to digging holes on a county beach, the ordinance states: “No person shall possess on or about the sandy Gulf beach a metal shovel of the type customarily sold in hardware stores – not a children’s toy – unless part of a construction project permitted under the Florida Building Code or similar law. No person shall dig a hole in the sandy Gulf beach deeper than one foot below surrounding grade unless part of a construction project permitted under the Florida Building Code or similar law.”

Manatee County owns and manages Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach and Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. The county also maintains and manages Bayfront Park in Anna Maria, which is city-owned and includes a beachfront area along the Tampa Bay shoreline. The county does not have the authority to regulate beaches that are not county-owned or county-managed.

As part of the efforts to protect the Island beaches, those who visit them and the wildlife that inhabits them, Hunsicker encouraged the Holmes Beach mayor and commission to consider adopting a city ordinance that would allow the city’s police officers and code compliance officers to enforce hole digging regulations similar to the county’s. Hunsicker will soon ask the Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach mayors and city commissioners to do the same.

“Everyone wants to come and build a sandcastle and get buried on the sand, but what we’re seeing now, and what we’ve seen the last several years, is a movement towards this massive work,” Hunsicker said.

His presentation includes a photo of large holes dug several feet deep on county beaches – some with adults standing in them and some with teenagers standing in them.

“Why is this happening? Because they’re out here with garden tools,” Hunsicker said. “No one’s going to be opposed to a beach pail and a plastic beach shovel and building family traditions and memories about some sandcastle. However, we’ve reached the point where some of these things are just excessive.”

Hunsicker said uncovered holes in the beach sand are even harder to see at night, which can result in people getting injured and sea turtles and other wildlife becoming fatally trapped. His presentation includes a photo of a loggerhead turtle that fell into a beach hole and died on its back, unable to escape.

Hunsicker’s presentation also references an Associated Press news story about a 2024 beach hole collapse in Fort Lauderdale that resulted in the death of a young girl. That story also references three other 2023-24 sand digging incidents that resulted in the deaths of a teenager in each instance.

Beach raker’s observations:

As the county’s primary beach rake operator, longtime Cortez resident Mark Taylor drives a large John Deere tractor up and down the county beaches towing a beach rake. Based in Holmes Beach but utilized Island-wide, the beach rake collects seaweed, algae, dead marine life and wildlife, trash and other beach debris.

Beach hole concerns deepen
Beach Rake operator Mark Taylor shared his concerns with the Holmes Beach mayor and commissioners. – Joe Hendricks
Sun

Hunsicker said Taylor once encountered a deep beach hole with a two-year-old child at the bottom of it; had he not seen the hole and then passed over it with the beach rake the consequences could have been disastrous.

At Hunsicker’s request, Taylor addressed the mayor and commission.

“Your police department has had to rope off holes that are bigger than my tractor and rig combined. These holes are dangerous. It’s a real problem,” Taylor said.

Beach hole concerns deepen
Beach rake operator Mark Taylor often encounters deep holes in the sand while navigating the Island beaches. – Manatee County | Submitted

Taylor said he has to avoid the holes when raking the beaches and he also expressed concerns about lifeguards and other first responders hitting an unseen hole while driving on the beach at an accelerated speed.

He said he gets out of his tractor a half-dozen times a day to kindly remind beachgoers to fill their holes before leaving. He also reminds them it’s currently sea turtle nesting season.

Beach hole concerns deepen
This county tractor and beach rake are stored near the Holmes Beach Skate Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Taylor said the county beaches are his top priority but he often operates the tractor and beach rake Island-wide, including while traveling from one county beach to another. During turtle nesting season, Taylor works closely with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella to ensure the Gulf shoreline is clear of debris and that the sand is properly sloped for the sea turtles to travel upon.

Taylor supports all three Island cities adopting beach regulations similar to the county regulations.

Commission comments:

Mayor Judy Titsworth said the city recently updated the public beach access signs placed at city street ends.

Regarding sea turtle awareness, the signs say:

  • “Lights out of for sea turtles May 1-Oct. 31;
  • “Do not approach turtles or nests;
  • “Remove beach furniture at dusk;
  • “Leave nests and signs undisturbed;
  • “Fill all holes dug in the sand.”

Beach hole concerns deepen
Signs placed at the public beach access points include sea turtle nesting season instructions. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Police Chief Bill Tokajer supports the adoption of a city ordinance that would provide his officers and the city’s code compliance officers with the authority they need to direct beachgoers to fill their excessive holes immediately and return their metal shovels to their vehicles.

“Deeper than your knee is too far,” Tokajer said about enforcing an ordinance that would limit the depth of the holes dug in the beach sand.

City Attorney Erica Augello said she has no legal concerns about the city adopting an ordinance that mirrors the county’s language and she noted the commission could revise the county language if so desired.

The commission reached unanimous consensus in directing Augello to draft an ordinance and present it for first reading at a future commission meeting. Any changes desired by the mayor, commission or city staff can then be incorporated before the ordinance is brought back for second reading and final adoption.

Natural Resources Director discusses state of beaches

Beach improvement projects coming

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

MANATEE COUNTY – Anna Maria Island beach renourishment is scheduled for 2026-27 at federal expense, but Manatee County must pay to stabilize Gulf Drive, install offshore erosion control breakwaters and repair the Longboat Pass jetty, the county’s beach official said.

During a joint meeting of the Manatee County Commission and the Town of Longboat Key on May 7, Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker gave a presentation on storm recovery and beach renourishment.

“Our contract with the federal government says if we lose the beach to a hurricane or a single major event, what’s called an emergency condition… the federal government will return to rebuild your project at 100% federal cost including putting in dunes to replace the ones lost,” Hunsicker said. “So we’re in a very fortunate position Island-wide, but that still leaves us with the full burden of cost for these other features at Coquina and Cortez Beach.”

Beach renourishment

The first Anna Maria Island beach renourishment was in 1992.

“Up until 1992, 9 miles of Anna Maria beaches left us only 30% of the beaches you could walk at high tide,” Hunsicker said. “If you weren’t here then and you see our healthy beaches now, you wonder why are we in this strong effort to keep these beaches healthy and continue to nourish. Because this is the end point when our nourishment stops. The erosion effects on our Island is day to day. Storm or no storm, we are losing about 10 feet a year to erosion.”

“We’ve continuously stayed with the projects ever since, with help from our federal partners as well as state partners. Of course, we have a program with the city of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach area that is supported by the Army Corps of Engineers,” Hunsicker said. “The Bradenton Beach area called Coquina and Cortez Beach are not federally supported because they are recreational beaches. There’s really no value behind that sand for a federal interest to protect.”

Hunsicker said there is talk that FEMA may not participate in funding recreational beaches.

“That would be a dramatic shift in responsibilities to the State of Florida and local governments who have recreational beaches,” he said. We have to ponder that as we think about our future budgets.”

Gulf Drive stabilization

Hunsicker addressed Gulf Drive stabilization to protect against storm surge and damage such as that caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

“The Gulf Drive stabilization, this was and still is a non-engineering structure. It’s there to protect wave runoff and protect this road from getting washed away,” Hunsicker said.

He said the current structures were placed in the early 1960s and he showed a slide which stated that Hurricane Helene storm surge and overwash caused severe damage to dunes, the revetment and the roadway.

“Because they were not engineered with a planning permit, we’re not going to get any assistance from FEMA or any government agencies to replace what was there,” Hunsicker said. “So we’re going to need to come back with an engineered structure designed to accommodate our knowledge of rising sea levels over decades and also provide the protection we’re going to need.”

Hunsicker said the choice of materials to protect the road is either rock or seawall.

“The downside is we can’t get through any of these processes without committing about $20 million along that Cortez Beach road section,” he said. “So we put in for a grant application and other activities. We’re going to be trying very hard to make that happen, but remember that $20 million is for that section of Cortez Beach. We really don’t have an alternative.”

Cortez Beach groins, Longboat Pass jetty

In 1957-58, perpendicular erosion control structures called groins were placed on the shoreline of Coquina Beach, Hunsicker said.

“They have deteriorated to the point where it’s not only an embarrassment from the standpoint of a beautiful beach, but is actually a safety hazard,” he said. “If a small child is on this side and the lifeguard tower is on this side, you can’t see them.”

The county is working on a plan to build four offshore breakwaters to deter erosion.

“We have to provide the same erosion protection and our plan coming up next year is to remove all these structures and substitute an offshore breakwater system that will continue to protect the beach but will give a complete and free clear run for public safety, for beach enjoyment, all the way to our central holding pier,” Hunsicker said.

At the south end of Coquina Beach, “The jetty is almost 70 years old. This has held up about as long as it can. We’re going to be removing some of the cross ties, putting in additional rock and a sheetwall right here behind it to be able to continue to rely on this jetty from keeping Coquina Beach from washing up into Longboat Pass,” Hunsicker said. “That’s the purpose of this jetty, to protect the navigational integrity of Longboat Pass to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Hurricane sand cleaned, returned to beaches

Hurricane sand cleaned, returned to beaches

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Beach, Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – In a large-scale beach restoration project to put back sand pushed across Gulf Drive during recent hurricanes, tons of sand are being cleaned and returned to the beaches at the Coquina Beach processing site.

Sand is picked up daily along Gulf Drive and carried to the site by dump trucks. There, it is put through sifters to remove debris before being placed back on local beaches.

“Clean sand is being delivered to both Cortez and Coquina public beaches and shaped to mimic low-level dune formations along the landward side of the beaches there,” Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Director of Natural Resources, wrote in a Nov.18 email.

Sand recovered from roadways is sorted, sifted, tested, and returned to the beach under Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Florida Department of Health requirements.

Sand removal from private property is the owner’s responsibility. Sand deposited on private property cannot be returned to the beach due to concerns about nails, debris, or household contaminants like oil, bleach, fertilizers, etc.

“Any dumping of sand from private properties on the beach is a direct violation of FDEP regulations. It is very important that the sand from private property not be mixed with the sand currently piled up on the roadsides. Residents with any remaining sandbags are encouraged to keep them through the end of storm season (Nov. 30),” according to the Manatee County website.

The sand being processed at the screening site is separated into two grades: beach-quality sand and construction-grade darker sand such as is found in parking lots.

As of Nov. 15, 19,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand has been sifted and returned to Anna Maria Island beaches. The county website estimates that amount to be enough to fill six Olympic-size swimming pools.

Construction-grade sand is being processed differently.

“Last week’s figures showed 27,000 cubic yards was transported to the Hidden Harbor staging site along Ft. Hamer Road in the eastern part of the county for future use in road building and infrastructure projects,” Manatee County spokesperson Bill Logan wrote in a Nov. 18 email to The Sun.

According to Logan, “With fill dirt costing between $5 to 15 per cubic yard, the county has already realized average savings of over a quarter million dollars. By the time all the debris sand is repurposed, the county will save well over a million dollars. That does not even calculate the cost of taking sand that could be repurposed to a landfill – which would be substantial.”

Piles of sand remain to be processed. Logan said it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how much remains as FDOT and the three Island cities are still bringing sand to the processing site.

He said the cost of the project has not yet been determined, but Manatee County will be reimbursed from FEMA debris funds.

“The FEMA deadline for total reimbursement is Jan. 11 (2025). Every effort is being made to wrap up sand screening operations by this date,” Logan stated.

Logan stated that each day tons of sand is screened and re-applied or shipped to the staging site at Hidden Harbor.

“While the sand screening is only a part of the overall debris effort, you can always follow along on the overall progress at mymanatee.org/debris. As of today, there has been more than 1.5 million cubic yards of debris collected county-wide,” Logan wrote.

Sea turtle nests disturbed at Coquina Beach

Sea turtle nests disturbed at Coquina Beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

BRADENTON BEACH – Upon seeing a group of six people digging around a marked turtle nest at the south end of Coquina Beach on Saturday, two early morning walkers did exactly what they were supposed to do – contact authorities.

“We saw a group of people digging with their hands into the nest. They were laughing and taking selfies and when we told them that it was illegal they became really rude,” one of the observers said.

The observers, Charlotte and Teri, contacted the Bradenton Beach Police Department non-emergency line.

“If they would have said, ‘Sorry, we didn’t know,’ I would have walked away, but instead they continued on to disturb two more nests,” Teri said.

An officer came out and contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

“There were four women and two men,” Charlotte said. “One of the women was put in handcuffs.”

After about an hour, FWC officers arrived, the women said.

“FWC showed up and I showed them the nests and he said he wanted me to sign the report,” Teri said. “When the other FWC gentlemen came over, they had a conference and said I didn’t need to sign a report, because there was no wet sand, even though you can clearly see the nest they disturbed.”

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella was notified of the incident and sent a volunteer out to check the nests.

“What that tells me about the wet sand is that they didn’t dig too deeply because the sand below the surface is wet,” she said. “But you should never put your hands inside a turtle nest enclosure.”

Sea turtles are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act and Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act. According to Florida law, no one may harass, disturb, take, move, sell, damage, destroy, injure or kill any marine turtle, hatchling, egg or nest.

In an email request by The Sun for comment on the incident, FWC Public Information Officer Bradley Johnson wrote the following:

“On July 13, 2024, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Bradenton Beach Police Department, and an FWC biologist responded to a report of a sea turtle nest disturbance on Coquina Beach. Once on scene FWC officers and biologists surveyed the nests and did not locate any evidence of the nests having been disturbed. FWC officers also spoke to the individuals who were near the nests and educated them on sea turtle nests and their protections.”

Mazzarella said the two women did the right thing by contacting authorities.

“Each of the three cities has a non-emergency telephone line,” she said. “The number for FWC is posted at each nest.”

If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), or call:

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.

• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 227.

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.

Water quality advisory in effect at Palma Sola

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Water Quality.

PALMA SOLA – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has issued a water quality advisory for Palma Sola South due to high bacteria levels.

Tests on May 6 and 8 indicate that the water quality at Palma Sola South does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health.

Palma Sola South is at the east end of the Palma Sola Causeway and the north side of Manatee Avenue West.

DOH-Manatee advises against any water-related activities at this location due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers. Sampling conducted during water quality monitoring showed that the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.

Water testing on May 6 also showed a bacterial water quality level of “poor” at Coquina Beach North, but no advisory was issued. Test results on May 8 show a “moderate” level of the bacteria at both Coquina Beach North and South, one step below “good.”

Enterococci are enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. According to DOH-Manatee, “The presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife and human sewage. If they are present in high concentrations in recreational waters and are ingested while swimming or enter the skin through a cut or sore, they may cause human disease, infections or rashes.”

The advisory at Palma Sola South will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level. Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches. For more information, call 941-714-7596 or visit Manatee.FloridaHealth.gov.

Year in Review: Bradenton Beach

Year in Review: Bradenton Beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Special Sections, Year in Review.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Pines Trailer Park and Bradenton Beach Marina sales and the approved hotel/restaurant/retail project on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive made the biggest headlines in the city in 2023.

Bradenton Beach Marina sold

In early January, developer Shawn Kaleta and the Metropolitan Property Ventures LLC purchased the Bradenton Beach Marina from the Bazzy family for $14 million. Kaleta now serves as president of the Bazzy Marine Corp.

County works on sewer, drainage problems

In January, Manatee County initiated its ongoing $8 million sewer improvement project along Gulf Drive South and the adjoining side streets from Sixth Street South to 13th Street South. As the sewer line replacement and installation work takes place on the residential side streets one street at a time, those streets temporarily closed to vehicular traffic for a month or more. Impacted residents, property owners and visitors must park in designated parking areas in the Cortez Beach parking lot until their street reopens. The county project is slated for completion in late 2024. By mid-August, Manatee County had essentially completed the second and final phase of the $7 million Coquina Beach drainage improvement project that included the installation of pervious pavement that allows rainwater to seep into the new drainage systems below. The completed project that began in 2019 provides more than 1,000 paved parking spaces and required the removal of more than 180 Australian pines.

Year in Review: Bradenton Beach
The parking lot at Coquina Beach was finally finished. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Signs, signs, signs installed

In February, Scenic WAVES Committee members and others expressed their concerns about the Florida Department of Transportation installing more than 60 new “No Parking on Right of Way” signs along Gulf Drive South, near Coquina Beach. Police Chief John Cosby requested the signs but had no input on the number of signs FDOT installed.

Azure Shores ordinance passed

In November, the city commission approved an ordinance that eliminated zoning map and future land use map inconsistencies that existed with 23 residentially zoned (R-3) properties in the Azure Shores subdivision between Bridge Street, the Cortez Bridge, Highland Avenue and Gulf Drive North.

Beach House Restaurant celebrates 30 years

Celebrating a longevity rarely found in the restaurant business, Chiles Hospitality observed the 30-year anniversary of the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant.

Hurricane Idalia precautions taken

In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, City commissioners voted Aug. 28 to declare a local state of emergency until Tuesday, Sept. 5, as clean-up efforts continued following storm surge. Beaches were closed and a mandatory evacuation order was in place for Level A residents, including all mobile home parks. Manatee County issued a voluntary Level B evacuation. “What we’re expecting now is a storm surge 4-7 feet,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said prior to the storm’s landfall.

Year in Review: Bradenton Beach
Developer Shawn Kaleta purchased the Pines Trailer Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pines Trailer Park purchased

In late August, Shawn Kaleta and the Pines Park Investors LLC purchased the Pines Trailer Park for $16.25 million after the resident/owners were unsuccessful in their efforts to purchase the park. In late September, Pines Park Investors LLC sent letters to park residents and mobile homeowners informing them of the rent increases that will take effect Jan. 1. The monthly rents are increasing from $620-$625 per month to $1,200, $1,350 per month or $1,475 per month depending on proximity to the waterfront.

Alcohol sales, consumption on city pier approved

Commissioners approved with conditions a special use permit for the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) on the Bradenton Beach Pier. The permit, with the City of Bradenton Beach as applicant, was approved on Sept. 18 allowing the consumption of alcohol purchased from AMOB, either from the main restaurant or takeout kiosk, at designated areas of the pier. AMOB leases both spaces from the city.

Tingley Library elevation considered

The creation of public parking by elevating or moving the Tingley Library was discussed at both the City Commission and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings in September. The city-owned library was built in the early 1990s using $240,000 of the $678,801 that Beulah Hannah Hooks Tingley bequeathed to the city in 1986 to create a public reading room. At the Sept. 6 CRA meeting, members acknowledged the need for public parking, but one member questioned whether CRA funds should be used for the design/build project. Mayor John Chappie directed city attorney Ricinda Perry to draft an RFP.

Coquina Beach Market reopens under county management

Nearly a year after the Manatee County tourism agency took over management of the Coquina Beach Market from the previous market director, a new manager and opening date for the market was announced. In a July 25 meeting of the Manatee County Board of Commissioners, it was approved that Dottie Deerwester from Ready Set Go Tour and Travel serve as the new market manager. The market reopened on Oct. 4 at South Coquina Beach and operates year-round.

Zoning irregularities discovered

At an Oct. 5 city commission meeting, a city building official determined that several properties in the city do not conform to the building code. “What we discovered, Runaway Bay – all the condominiums – Tortuga, Silver Surf, Bridgewalk, Old Bridge Village, all of these appear to be triggered in some way by this provision on first blush,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. Many properties in the city exceed the number of allowable units, making them legally non-conforming, according to Perry. City officials say the classification only affects property owners if a natural disaster forces rebuilding, whereupon current codes would apply, potentially eliminating some units.

Chappie, Vosburgh and Spooner begin new terms

Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Janet Vosburgh were sworn in for new two-year terms on Nov.17 by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente at Bradenton Beach City Hall. Chappie, Vosburgh and Commissioner Jacob Spooner ran unopposed. Spooner was sworn in the following day.

CRA votes to discontinue tram funding

At a Dec. 6 meeting, the CRA board voted unanimously to discontinue funding of the Old Town Tram, a free park-and-ride service which it began subsidizing in November 2020 at a cost of $52,000 per year. The tram was launched as a pilot program to help address the lack of parking on Bridge Street. Annual funding for the service was cut from the city’s 2023-24 budget, but CRA board members agreed at a Sept. 6 meeting to a $10,000 expenditure to keep it going until the end of 2023.

Hotel/Restaurant/Retail project approved on Bridge Street

At the end of a second public hearing on Dec. 7, city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a hotel/restaurant/retail project at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South. The 106-room hotel will also have a 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail space and 154 on-site parking spaces. Co-applicants for the hotel are Shawn Kaleta and Jake Spooner, a Bradenton Beach city commissioner who recused himself from all hearings related to the hotel. At the first public hearing on Nov. 16, following a Nov. 13 recommendation for approval by the City Planning and Zoning Board, commissioners expressed concern about lack of parking, hotel design and density. In addressing those concerns, applicants’ representatives made design changes to the original plan, adding balconies, public walkways and a hydraulic lift parking system. Within days of approval, demolition began on one building on the site of the hotel – the former Joe’s Eats ‘N Sweets ice cream shop.

Passings

On April 10, Bradenton Beach Public Works Department employee and Holmes Beach resident Marylou Kelley passed away at 62.

On June 17, Pines Trailer Park resident and former Michigan resident Dick Smith passed away at 83. Smith was a popular regular patron at the Sport Lounge and the Drift In.

Drift In parking lot attendant, local artist and former Cortez commercial fisherman Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1 at 62 after battling ongoing health issues.

Longtime Bradenton Beach property owner and visitor Judy Kuhlman passed away on Sept. 23 at 81. Kuhlman and her husband, Dick, owned the historic 3 Pines Cottage beachfront vacation rental at 2214 Gulf Drive N. that still contains the 1948 Airstream trailer her grandparents placed on the beachfront property in the late 1940s.

Former Chiles Group Chief Financial Officer Martha Wright passed away on Oct. 20. Wright was also the treasurer and a longtime volunteer for Gulf Shore Animal League.

 – Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story

Symphony salutes veterans

Symphony salutes veterans

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Music.

BRADENTON BEACH – It was a feast for all five senses as hundreds gathered at Coquina Beach for the 2023 Symphony on the Sand.

The smell of gourmet food filled the air as the 45-piece Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO), under the accomplished baton of Maestro Alfred Gershfeld entertained the crowd with the backdrop that only a Gulf coast sunset can provide.

Symphony salutes veterans
Beachgoers may have not had the opportunity to enjoy the food and drinks that came with buying a ticket to this year’s Symphony on the Sand in Bradenton Beach, but they were welcome to dance on the beach while soaking in a beautiful sunset while enjoying the music. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“This is literally the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I’ve traveled the world,” said Lisa Stadtler, visiting the Island from New Jersey. “I asked my husband where the heck we were. This doesn’t even seem real. The weather is perfect, the sunset is stunning and this music is just amazing.”

The Nov. 11 event celebrated Veterans Day, and veterans were at the center of the show. Every table was adorned with American flags, and the AMICCO proudly played plenty of patriotic tunes to honor the many veterans in attendance. People danced in the white sand and waved flags as the music filled the air.

“America has its problems, but I think no matter how much we may disagree on politics or policy, we all agree our veterans are what have secured our place as the best country in the world,” Sam Crowder said. “We live over in Bradenton and try to never miss this. It rained last year, but this weather is just amazing; what a blessing.”

Coquina Beach Market reopens after more than a year

Coquina Beach Market reopens after more than a year

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Entertainment, Markets.

BRADENTON BEACH – Coquina Beach Market vendor Christine Barrett loves her new office.

“Look at this,” she said. “My ‘office’ has the most beautiful view. What could be better than this?”

Barrett, of Five Acre Woods woodworking crafts, was at one of 80 vendor spots at the long-awaited Oct. 5 opening of the market on Coquina Beach.

“It’s been fairly busy today,” said Barrett, adding that she had been a vendor at the “old” Coquina Beach Market, located north of the current Manatee County-run market, but pulled out because of the construction at the beach.

Marketgoers perused offerings of clothing, foods, decorative items and jewelry on opening day. A ribbon-cutting will be held at the market on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m.

The market will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Nancy Ambrose ran the market for 10 years before Manatee County took over operations in August 2022. Originally slated to open in November 2022, the market was delayed by damage from Hurricane Ian and parking lot construction.

Vendors who would like to participate in upcoming markets may visit Coquinabeachmarket.org and text name, company name, product and email address to 941-840-0789 or email the information to info@coquinabeachmarket.org.

Idalia erodes Island beaches

Idalia erodes Island beaches

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Beach, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known.

“It could be months before any decision on what efforts will be undertaken is made,” Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said in a Sept. 8 email to The Sun.

The first step of the process – evaluation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – has been completed.

“Jacksonville District completed preliminary damage assessments of all federal shore protection projects Sept. 1-3,” according to David Ruderman of the USACE Jacksonville Corporate Communications Office.

“Non-federal sponsors of federally authorized and constructed coastal storm risk management projects which sustained damages resulting from Hurricane Idalia have until Oct. 1 to apply for rehabilitation assistance under Public Law 84-99,” Ruderman said in an email to The Sun.

As of Sept. 15, Ruderman said requests have been received from Manatee and Pinellas counties.

During the Aug. 29 hurricane, storm surge reached 3-4 feet in coastal areas in Manatee County.

“This is the beginning of what I am told is a long process whereby the beaches are hand-measured, staked-out and surveyed for damage estimates from the storm and what measures may be needed to renourish any impacted areas,” Logan said in the Sept. 8 email.

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Director Dr. Dave Tomasko evaluated the impact from Hurricane Idalia on the SBEP website.

“With Idalia, even though it was about 100 miles offshore, we were on its strong side, and thus we got the storm surge, even though we mostly experienced just tropical storm level winds,” he wrote. “This storm surge came a few hours before the peak of the full moon high tides.”

Water levels were retreating as the tide was coming up, Tomasko wrote.

“So, the dreaded ‘high tide on top of a storm surge’ did not happen,” Tomasko wrote. “That is lucky, because that could have added another foot or two. Still, water levels were about 3’ higher than they would have been otherwise.”

The last major beach renourishment locally was the 2021 Coquina Beach Storm Damage Restoration project, which placed approximately 74,805 cubic yards of sand at Coquina Beach.

“Beach renourishment projects not only provide recreational beach width for the benefit of residents and visitors, but during storm events, the sand also provides critical protection for structures and infrastructure landward of the beach. In addition, the beach provides critical habitat and nesting areas for protected species such as sea turtles and shorebirds,” according to Manatee County’s website.

Since 1992, Manatee County has participated in eight beach nourishment projects.

Approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of sand from offshore borrow areas have been placed as a result of the county’s and USACE’s beach preservation efforts.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line

Coquina drainage project nears finish line

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON BEACH – The main components of Manatee County’s drainage improvement project at Coquina Beach are complete.

What remains are the completion of the second unpaved overflow parking area, the installation of an irrigation system and the planting of new trees that will replace the Australian pine trees previously removed.

Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow provided city and county officials with a project update during the Aug. 1 Council of Governments meeting in Palmetto.

“Short of planting trees, we’re finally done,” Butzow said of the two-phase drainage improvement project that began at the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot in mid-2019.

The drainage improvement project included paving the previously unpaved parking areas using pervious concrete that allows rainwater to drain downward through it and into the new drainage system below.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line

The pervious concrete in the Coquina Beach parking lot allows rainwater to drain downward through it. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“It was a drainage project. The parking lot just happens to be the drainage system for that,” Butzow said in reference to some people referring to the project as a parking project.

“Within that project, we even added some overflow parking with our geo-web system in the former overflow grass area. Even if it’s a heavy rain, you’ll be stable in there. You won’t be parking in mud. That area will only be open when it’s needed,” Butzow said.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line

The Coquina Beach parking lot now includes this overflow parking area that can be opened as needed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The first gated, unpaved overflow parking lot is finished and located north of the picnic pavilions. The second unpaved overflow parking area still under construction is located just north of the first overflow parking area.

The drainage project and parking improvements resulted in the somewhat controversial removal of approximately 200 Australian pine trees.

“I will point out to some of the naysayers, there’s a lot of trees left,” Butzow said.

Butzow referenced the one-for-one tree replacement required by the city as part of the its initial permitting approval for the county’s drainage improvement project. The Bradenton Beach City Commission stipulated each non-native Australian pine tree removed must later be replaced with a new, native Florida tree.

“One tree down, one tree in,” Butzow said, noting he expected the tree plantings to take place within 30 to 45 days.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line
The drainage project and parking improvements required the removal of many Australian pines but many Australian pines were left standing. Joe Hendricks | Sun

Butzow said it’s hard to determine whether the mostly completed project created more or fewer beach parking spaces, but there’s an upside either way.

“You get a lot more organized parking is the overall consensus. We’re very thrilled with how it looks and how it feels overall,” he said of the project as a whole.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line

After a recent rain, standing rainwater pooled in the cul-de-sac near the center of the parking lot. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

According to Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan, the revamped Coquina Beach parking lot, including the two overflow parking areas, will provide 1,042 parking spaces.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line
Rainwater recently accumulated atop the pervious concrete near the unpaved overflow parking areas. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On the morning of Aug. 16, The Sun visited the Coquina Beach parking lot. Even after a recent rain, most of the parking lot surfaces were dry and free of standing water. But there was some rainwater pooled a few inches deep in the lower-lying paved areas near the cul-de-sac and overflow parking areas toward the center of the parking lot.

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line
Work continues on the second overflow parking area that will also include new tree plantings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted later that day, Logan said, “Regarding drainage, the playground area holds stormwater that falls on it. When it is full, it backs into the pervious parking area at the phase 1 cul-de-sac. It will slowly drain into the drainage system over a couple of days.

“All of the standard parking areas are complete and open to traffic,” he said. “The unfinished area is the second overflow parking lot and tree mitigation area. Irrigation is currently being installed so crews can plant the 80 some-odd trees in the former green space that occupied this area. Once the trees are in, staff will hydroseed the remaining space to get grass growing.”

Coquina Beach drainage project nearing finish line
This project map illustrates the phases and sub-phases of the multi-year drainage project. – Manatee County | Submitted

Beach Market scheduled to open in October

Beach Market scheduled to open in October

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

COQUINA BEACH – Nearly a year after the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau took over the management of the Coquina Beach Market from the previous market director, a new manager and opening date for the market have been announced.

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved Dottie Deerwester from Ready Set Go Tour and Travel as the new market manager on July 25.

“Right now, I am collecting names of possible vendors and will be sending out information by the end of August,” Deerwester said on Aug. 5. “Any interested vendors should text me and I will be in contact with them.”

Deerwester said there will be a maximum of 80 vendors at the market.

The market is expected to open on Oct. 4 at South Coquina Beach and will have year-round operations, according to Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.

Market hours will be Sundays, beginning around 4 to 6 hours before sunset and ending just before sunset, and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vendors wishing to be considered for space at the market may text Deerwester at 707-972-5055 with their name, company name, email and type of product to be sold. Alternatively, an email can be sent to dottie@rdysetgo.com

The county received three proposals – from Deerwester, Florida Marketplace Group, LLC and Your Tampa Markets LLC, according to the county license agreement.

“To enhance and promote Manatee County as a unique community, and provide for the comfort in and enjoyment of the use of the park by its patrons, the county hereby grants unto licensee the right and privilege to provide the county with market vendor coordinator services in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of this agreement,” according to the franchise license agreement between the county and Deerwester.

The agreement may be terminated at any time with 30 days written notice, according to the license agreement.

The discussion about the market began on Aug. 2, 2022, the county announced in a press release that it would take over the beach market from Nancy Ambrose, its director for the past decade. The release stated in part: “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 seasons opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”

That opening was delayed following Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

“As crews have been deployed around the county to clean up and repair other parks properties, the site prep and rehab work to get the new site (further south on Coquina Beach) ready have been put on hold temporarily,” according to a Manatee County press release. “The official opening date has been delayed from the originally planned Nov. 1.”