State Park now open at Range Light, main lot at Belcher still closed

Florida State Parks reopened three parking areas for Gasparilla Island State Park last weekend, and the “Beaches Closed” electronic signage at the Boca Grande Causeway toll was removed. 

The three areas that are open are the Range Light area, the Sea Grape and Sea Wall parking areas which are located between the Range Light and the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. Still closed are the two adjacent parking areas at the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse at the south end of Gasparilla Island.

The Range Light remains closed, as there was damage to the landscaped area around the base. The bathrooms at the Range Light are also closed. There are two porta potties there.

There is no date for the reopening of the two lots at the south end of the island.

Florida State Parks and Florida Department of Environmental Protection have not given the Boca Beacon a date for the reopening. The state has not responded to repeated requests for a timeline.

The state is also planning for changes to the parking area at the south end. The state has applied for Lee County permit number GEN2024-00366, filed by Weiler Engineering Corporation project for Gasparilla Island State Park. It includes the relocation of the park’s entry/exit at Belcher Road, main driveway and paving of main parking lot and south parking lot.Project status is “in review.”