Visitors to some Pinellas County, Fla. beach parks may soon need to budget more for parking if county commissioners adopt a new fee plan.
At Fort De Soto, Sand Key, and Fred Howard beach parks, a long stay could push the current flat $6 charge all the way to $28 under the proposal.
Here's what to know
According to FOX 13 News, Pinellas County Commissioners are weighing a switch from the existing $6 daily parking fee to a rate of $3.50 per hour at the three beach parks.
Under the hourly rate, a shorter stop could end up costing less, but the price climbs quickly for people who stay most of the day: eight hours would total $28. Commissioners have considered setting a $15 daily maximum, though nothing has been finalized.
Officials are also considering raising prices for boat ramp parking and annual passes. A yearly beach parking pass for those three parks presently costs $75, plus tax, and an annual pass covering both boat ramp access and beach parking costs $110, plus tax.
As the county looks for new sources of revenue to fill a potential budget gap, these prices could soon see a jump, too.
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Brian Scott, a Pinellas County commissioner, said the county is trying to address its financial challenges without raising property taxes.
"We hadn't adjusted the rates in about 20 years," Scott said of the price of parking, per FOX 13. "We're really long overdue, and we're quite honestly trying to solve some budget shortfalls."
More background
County officials say the proposed increases could generate nearly $2.8 million in additional revenue each year. According to FOX 13 News, that money could matter as the county works on its fiscal 2027 budget and heads toward a November property tax vote that could reduce countywide revenue by $122 million.
Braden Marsh, a 16-year-old fisherman, told FOX 13 that changing the price of parking from a $6 flat rate to an hourly model could make people less likely to visit the county's beach parks.
"I think people may not visit as much," Marsh said.
What's being done?
With no changes having been officially approved, residents are able to continue taking advantage of the old fees. For now, parking at Fort De Soto, Sand Key, and Fred Howard beach parks still costs $6 a day, according to FOX 13 News.
For Marsh, the teenage fisherman, $6 per day for beachfront parking is a pretty good deal. Still, he acknowledged the need for the county to raise funds, as well.
"For six bucks, it's pretty nice to come out here," he told FOX 13 News. "I admit that it's good that they'd be getting a little more funding, but I guess we'd have to see it implemented first."
Where can I learn more?
The debate in Pinellas County is part of a bigger conversation about who gets access to public beaches and how those spaces are managed. In some places, there is tension between residents and local governments over development plans, tighter rules, and other changes that affect the way people use nearby shorelines.
• In Hollywood, Fla., residents are fighting a beach development plan they say threatens shoreline access.
• In San Sebastián, officials imposed drastic new beach rules that locals say make visits harder.
• In Lancaster, Calif., leaders want a new feature in parking lots to expand EV access.
• At vulnerable beaches, officials are warning that damage to eroded dunes can threaten turtle nests.
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