Parking at Pinellas County’s most popular beach parks is about to get more expensive, and annual passes already have.
County leaders approved higher parking fees for Fort De Soto, Sand Key and Fred Howard parks as part of the newly adopted county budget. Starting Dec. 1, the flat $6 daily parking rate gives way to $3.50 per hour, capped at $12 a day. A one-hour visit will cost less than it does now, but anything longer will cost more, and a full day will cost twice as much. Boat ramp parking will also move to a $12 daily fee on the same date.
Annual and seasonal passes went up Oct. 1, plus tax:
- Full-price annual beach pass: $75 to $95
- Full-price annual boat pass: $110 to $140
- Senior pass for beach and boat areas: $55 to $70
- Military annual beach pass: $55 to $70
- Full-price six-month beach pass: $45 to $60
- Discounted six-month pass for seniors or military: $30 to $40
- Limited-income beach pass: $37 to $55
By PIE-Sun’s calculation, most of those passes rose by roughly a quarter to a third, and the limited-income pass jumped nearly 50 percent. The county also added a $105 military boat pass and stopped selling a separate senior beach pass. The pass for disabled U.S. veterans stays free.
County officials project the changes will bring in nearly $3 million a year. They say the rates have not changed in about 20 years and that the increases, along with other cuts, are meant to address rising costs, tens of millions of dollars in unfunded state and federal mandates and possible budget shortfalls next year. Reports on the vote did not itemize those mandates or the other cuts.
Reaction from regulars was mixed. Grant Jones, a local fisherman, said gas prices are already climbing and the new fees will now factor into where he decides to fish.
The county says the money is needed. Residents may want to know how much of the gap comes from outside mandates and how much from the county’s own spending choices.
Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater & Tampa Bay, FL news at PIE-Sun.com
Dad. Father. Author.
S4: Students, Schools, Social Media, & Success, and The College Merit Scholarship Appeal Guide
Owen has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Gate, AOL, BAM Magazine, Boss Magazine, and Tampa Bay Business Insider.