With A Focus On Safety, 30 Sarasota County Beaches Will Close Earlier Starting Friday

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Starting Friday, nearly 30 Sarasota County beach accesses and public parks will change their hours, closing at 10 p.m. These parks previously closed at midnight.

In video update, Nicole Rissler, director of the county’s parks, recreation and natural resources department, said the change affects all beaches, beach access points, Phillippi Estate Park and Patriots Park. The new hours are consistent with other county parks, she added.

Most of our parks are in two groups. Either they close at sunset, because they’re really a natural areas park and they don’t have any activity going on after dark, or our recreation and athletics parks, which close at 10 p.m.,” she said. “So, we have some consistency there.”

The changes are being made to provide additional safety to park visitors and users, Rissler said. It will also help protect the natural and cultural resources at the parks and help with maintenance issues.

Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Sarasota newsletters and real-time email alerts.

All parks — even those not affected by the hour changes — will get new, larger signage with transportation-grade reflection that share activities allowed at each site, how to protect resources there and park hours.

Find a full list of Sarasota County parks and beaches and their hours and locations here.