Boca Grande beach access updated at Lee meeting

During the Tuesday, April 1 Lee Board of County Commissioners meeting, Assistant County Manager Christine Brady gave an update on Gasparilla Island beach accesses. 

At the end of March, Lee County Parks and Recreation opened the 19th Street paddle craft launch as well as beach accesses on 1st, 3rd, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 19th streets. Monday, March 31, 13th Street was also opened. 

Access at 3rd Street and parking at 5th Street were reopened on March 21. Beach access at 5th Street remains closed at this time. 

“The Beach access remains closed while our team continues to work on cleaning up that sandy area there, and developing a plan so that citizens can access that beach safely,” Brady said. “So, should have an update here in the next couple of days.”

Banyan, 4th, 7th and 9th streets are still closed. “Estimated time to reopen those accesses are by the end of this week,” Brady said. 

The Lee County Parks and Recreation team spoke to the state park supervisor, who said that the state is in the middle of beach renourishment, so the park would have been closed during this time anyway, Brady added. 

Updates for all Parks sites can be followed at the Parks Progress Tool by visiting leeparks.org.