COVID-19 precautions: Beach access limits going up on miles of SWFL coast, two fishing piers
Update: Since this story was published, Collier County has announced that county beach access, not just parking areas, would be closed to the public until further notice, starting at sunset Thursday.
Beaches closed and beach parking limits were announced Wednesday for miles of Southwest Florida coast and at the Naples and Fort Myers Beach fishing piers to try to cut down on crowds and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The closures and limits, some of which went into effect Wednesday and some to be effective Thursday, apply to beaches from Marco Island to Sanibel Island and change the landscape for one of the region's natural treasures and economic engines.
Collier County closed its beach parking starting at sunset Wednesday. The measure will stay in effect until further notice.
The county closed parking at Conner Park, Barefoot Beach Access, Barefoot Beach Preserve, Vanderbilt Beach Parking Garage, Seagate Access, Tigertail Beach Access and South Marco Beach.
Collier Area Transit is also halting operation of its beach bus route 29 until further notice.
All Collier beach access points, however, will remain open to the public for now, the county announced Wednesday.
Sanibel Island closed beach parking indefinitely, starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, at Bowman's Beach, Blind Pass Gulfside City Park (Algiers), Lighthouse Beach and Fishing Pier, and the Trost parking lot.
Lee County closed county-owned beaches and the Fort Myers Beach Pier until further notice effective 6 p.m. Thursday, including beach parking lots, restrooms and county-owned beach access points.
The closed county beach parks include:
- Bonita Beach Park
- Bowditch Point Park
- Bowman's Beach Park
- Causeway Islands
- Crescent Beach Family Park
- Little Hickory Island Beach Park
- Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park
- Matanzas Pass Preserve
- San Carlos/Bunche Beach Preserve
- Turner Beach Park
Closed beach accesses include:
- Alison Hagerup Beach Park
- Andy Rosse Lane paddlecraft launch
- Boca Grande Beach Accesses
- Bonita Beach Accesses
- Dog Beach Park
- Estero Islands Beach Access
- Matanzas Bridge Fishing Pier
The closures come at the height of spring break for college-age students or, the county said, when some are here taking online classes.
“While young people may not be as vulnerable to the symptoms of COVID-19 as older adults, they can be asymptomatic and spread the virus to others, including older adults and their own family members,” County Manager Roger Desjarlais said in a news release.
The county will coordinate enforcement of the closures, according to the news release.
The county is also suspending LeeTran's beach trolley and tram service effective 6 p.m. Thursday.
Naples closed all public beaches within city limits beginning Wednesday through Monday, March 30.
The Naples Pier closed at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday; all other beach accesses, beach restroom facilities, parking areas, Lowdermilk Park, and walkways closed at 5 p.m.
Florida coronavirus updates:Confirmed cases skyrocket to 314; South Florida continues to be epicenter
Where is coronavirus in Florida?:Use this map to track the outbreak of COVID-19
"We just feel like it's a prudent move to really mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community," said Naples Fire Chief Pete DiMaria, adding that city officials have seen a lot of activity on the beaches.
Sending staff to beaches to keep beachgoers away will be difficult, DiMaria said, but city officials hope that the public heeds the closures.
"We'll be monitoring the best we can...," he said. "We just want to continue to echo the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the importance for social distancing in our community."
Commissioner Penny Taylor — who during an emergency meeting earlier this week said the situation at the county beaches was a concern for her — said Wednesday that Collier's steps are necessary and that the county is trying to be proactive in light of the rapidly spreading virus.
"I think it's a natural progression," she said. "I don't think it's draconian."
From Tuesday:Despite coronavirus spread, Collier's busy beaches remain open for now; pools, fitness and community centers to close
From Monday:Collier County declare states of emergency due to coronavirus
The new closures, however, won't restrict ride-share services or shuttles from dropping off beachgoers, Taylor said.
"They can walk to the beach. They can bike," Taylor said.
Beachfront hotel guests, too, will still be able to use the beach.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, like other state parks, remains open but has reduced hours of operations from 8 a.m. to sunset to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dan Byers of Cabana Dan's on Vanderbilt Beach, one of Collier's most crowded beaches, said in a text message that he hopes the measures will be short-lived. His business will remain open, he said.
"The county has to take some action that they deem necessary to help out with the spread of the virus," Byers wrote.
He added: "We hope that people get resourceful and still find a way to get to the beach whether it be walking, riding bikes or contacting an Uber-type service."
But some Collier residents questioned why county leaders are keeping county beaches open and closing only places to park.
Barbara Owen, 64, lives with her 75-year-old husband and their 38-year-old daughter. She said in an email that they're staying home and only going to the grocery store.
She questioned why Collier beaches are open, drawing visitors from the state's east coast where some local governments shut down beaches over the weekend, and called on county leaders to close the beaches.
"Tell everyone who doesn't have to be out to stay home!" she wrote. "While we do our best to stay safe and keep our medical personnel from being overwhelmed, we expect our leaders to require the same from everyone."
To some beachgoers, Wednesday's news of the new restrictions was disappointing but understandable.
Sean Schifferl, 17, was at Barefoot Beach with his brother and had plans to go fishing Wednesday night at the Naples Pier.
“It’s probably the right thing to do," Schifferl said. “But it kills everything that we can do.”
Jeff Libler, who took advantage of the cheap flights and flew in from Michigan with his four kids, had plans to go to the beach again Thursday.
Libler has parents in Southwest Florida and wanted to give his daughters, who are competitive swimmers, a chance to continue training.
“I’m a little bummed out,” he said. “But it’s understandable.”
USA TODAY - Florida Network reporter Bill Smith contributed this report.
Connect with the reporter at patrick.riley@naplesnews.com or on Twitter @PatJRiley.
In Collier County:Tracking the coronavirus: 13 positive cases to date
What's closed in Naples?:Here's what is closed or has changed along amid COVID-19 concerns