Would you like to tell us what YOU think?

Details of $5 causeway/beach entry fee

County officials have finalized their plans to "monetize" the beach area at Howard Park, to help pay the cost of running the park, due to Pinellas County and the State of Florida's budget woes. They have decided on "pay and display kiosks", and will NOT have toll booth at the beginning of the causeway (yay!). $5 per day per car will be only to drive out the causeway and park at the beach area.

Here's the response from the Parks department:

Thank you for your e-mail of May 27, 2011 concerning Fred Howard Park fees. In response to you specific questions, here is some information you may share with folks you come in contact with.

1. The Fred Howard Park fee will be applied through Pay and Display parking machines located at the beach lot and along the causeway. There will be no toll booth. The fee will be $5.00 per vehicle, per day. An annual pass will also be available for $75 per year (seniors 65 and over will be discounted to $55 per year).
2. The decision to implement a fee was not tied to any survey or desire by park users to pay a fee. The simple fact is that at the present time, all of our beach parks with the exception of Fred Howard Park and Fort De Soto Park charge a parking fee. Implementation of a fee is consistent with activities at other beach parks. I would also note that at Fred Howard Park the fee does not apply to the upland park areas.
3. While the situation at Fred Howard Park may be different than Fort De Soto Park, it is very similar to the situation at Sand Key Park, where a parking fee has been charged for over 15 years. The fee will help offset some of the drastic cuts the department has taken over the last four years and help to defray future reductions the department faces in FY2012.

I hope this information addresses your questions. If you have any additional questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Paul Cozzie
Parks and Conservation Resources Director
727.582.2502