After Hurricane Ian, Lee County reopening beach parks with free parking

Lee County announced that several beach parks—Lynn Hall Memorial Park, San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, Bonita Beach Park and Bonita Beach Accesses 1 to 10—would reopen on Saturday.

According to a county press release, these locations previously had been slated to reopen later this spring. There will be no charge for beach parking until further notice.

“We are thrilled to announce the reopening of our beach park facilities after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. It is heartening to hear from our residents and visitors how eager they are to once again enjoy these amenities, and we are grateful for their patience during the rebuilding process,” said Brian Hamman, chairman of the Lee Board of County Commissioners. “I would also like to commend the county staff for their hard work and dedication in getting these facilities back up and running. These efforts have helped to restore a sense of normalcy and community pride to our area.”

The announcement comes after Boca Grande Beach Accesses and Dog Beach opened on March 1. Alison Hagerup Beach Park on Captiva is expected to open on March 10. Bowditch Point Park and Crescent Beach Family Park remain closed as work to reopen them continues.

Residents and visitors are advised:

• Beaches and beach parks have not been restored to pre-Hurricane Ian conditions.
• Some amenities, such as restroom facilities, piers and walkovers, have not been repaired or replaced at this time.
• Debris continues to wash onshore and may quickly be obscured by sand.
• Beach shoes should be worn at all times.
• Debris can still be found in near-shore areas, such as dunes or mangrove-lined coastlines.
• Check for any beach or water advisories from the Florida Department of Health-Lee County at lee.floridahealth.gov. FDOH-Lee issued a Red Tide alert on Feb. 20 for portions of the coast in Lee County.
• Closure signs are posted where necessary, and the Lee County Parks and Rec website has status updates.

The entrance to San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, 18201 John Morris Road, will be closed every Tuesday and Wednesday beginning March 7 to allow the state’s licensed contractor to safely remove hurricane debris along the preserve’s coastline.

To ensure safety, the contractors must keep the road and beach area closed and clear of all pedestrian and vehicular traffic while the debris is moved off the beach.

Hurricane Ian damaged Lee County’s beaches and sensitive ecosystems with storm debris, pollution and the removal of healthy, safe sand and dune vegetation. The county is ensuring that the many elements of the beach restoration process are rigorously documented to support full reimbursement through federal funds.

For more information on additional openings and available amenities, visit the Park Progress Map tool.