Indian Rocks Beach considers paid beach access parking

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — The city of Indian Rocks Beach has had free parking at its beach access points for years. However, a new pilot program is looking to change that.

City Manager Ryan Henderson said the conversation surrounding paid parking began in 2023.

He believes the revenue can make a big difference in their community.

“My recommendation and staff’s recommendation to the commission was as this revenue comes in through paid parking, we put it back into the community,” Henderson said. “We put it back into our infrastructure, we put it back into our maintenance.”

Henderson said there is no set date for when paid parking could start.

With 182 free public spots at the access points, Henderson said the money generated would make a major impact, especially for a city of its size.

They’re looking at $4.50 an hour.

“We’d be generating around $800,000 to $900,000 a year, but we think that’s a very conservative number,” Henderson said. “We think we’ll be well over $1 million.”

Christine Anderson said there has been free parking for the 17 years she’s lived in Indian Rocks Beach and that talk of these changes caught her off guard.

“I was a little surprised, but I think times have changed and maybe there is a need for this city to recoup some of the money,” she said.

Richard Griffin, a part-time resident for 15 years, is hoping that more information comes out about the changes.

“I have some sort of mixed emotions until I get more details as to what the final price will be and how long you can park and that type of thing,” he said.

Henderson said there would be no time limit on parking.