Pinellas County Beach Closures FAQs Due To Coronavirus

Press release from the Pinellas County Government:

March 20, 2020

Q What is closing?

All Pinellas County public beaches and public beach parking areas are closed as of midnight, regardless of jurisdiction. This includes recreation access along the Dunedin Causeway and Skyway beach area. Also: Fort De Soto Park is closed at the entry gate except to citizens who have campground reservations or those accessing the boat ramp. Sand Key Park on Clearwater Beach is closed. At Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, the beach area and causeway are closed, but the uplands portion of the park remain open. Camping permits to Shell Key are not being issued.

How long will the closure last?

The closure, effective at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 20, is set to run through April 6. The Board of County Commissioners can extend the closure if COVID-19 remains a threat to public health.

How will it be enforced?

Pinellas County staff posted signage to advise residents and visitors of the closures. Parking areas will be closed off by gate or temporary barricades. Enforcement authorities will patrol the beach areas, with a focus on educating visitors about the need to comply and stay safe.

Why is the closure necessary?

Because Pinellas County has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, they draw large crowds. This is particularly true during spring break. The most effective way we can combat the spread of-COVID-19 at this time is through social distancing. We need to do everything we can to prevent large gatherings.

What about private beach areas?

Private beaches are not closed, but property owners and visitors are asked to conform to CDC guidelines by maintaining six feet of separation between groups and limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people.

Can I access the beach from a private beach and then walk along the rest of the beach?

The closure applies to all public beaches up to the wet sand line, because that is where County’s jurisdiction ends. Citizens accessing the beach from private property and walking below the wet sand line will most likely not be stopped by enforcement areas. However, everyone is asked to follow social distancing guidelines.

What’s still open to the public?

Pinellas County’s other parks and preserves remain open, except for Heritage Village and the education centers at Brooker Creek Preserve and Weedon Island Preserve. (Shelter reservations through April 30 have been canceled, and no new reservations are being accepted.) County-controlled boat ramps remain open. There are many “put-in” areas around the county where individual paddlers can access our waterways.

Are Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks open?

Honeymoon Island State Park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, all events and activities have been canceled, and the state is restricting visitor capacity to limit gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Caladesi Island remains accessible via the north end of Clearwater Beach or by boat.

Won’t this hurt businesses?

COVID-19 will continue to have a profound impact on our economy, including our robust tourism industry. However, the focus now is on doing everything we can to keep citizens and visitors safe.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19 continues to evolve. Additional restrictions could be put in place. Pinellas County will communicate any future changes as they become necessary.

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.