- All beaches are open to residents and visitors; some sections still to be planted
- Residents and visitors reminded to use designated access paths and stay off the fragile dunes
- The County’s tourism tax is funding the emergency dune construction and other important tourism-related projects
Beach properties that had an access path before still have access now. There may be a steeper slope in some areas to cross over between the vegetated areas of the dunes. In these cases, the County is working to adjust the slope to make the access easier to use. In the meantime, residents should tread carefully. It is critical that residents and visitors use designated access points to allow the new vegetation to take hold.
“Visitors may notice a difference in their beach views as we work to protect our community from future storm surge,” says Kelli Hammer Levy, Public Works Director. “Hurricane Idalia caused severe erosion on our beaches and caused storm surge up over 6-feet in some areas. These dunes are the first line of defense against the next storm. It will be at least two years before the next nourishment, so the dunes are providing protection for at least two hurricane seasons; they are critically important.”
Pinellas County is investing visitor-generated Hotel Bed Tax funds (known as the Pinellas County Tourist Development Tax) from tourists’ overnight stays to pay for the emergency beach reconstruction and other important tourism-related initiatives, such as the new Rays Stadium.
“This project is, as we like to say, ‘From visitors with love’,” said Visit St. Pete/Clearwater President/CEO Brian Lowack.
To learn more, see a list of FAQ’s and view a map of the emergency beach erosion control project visit https://pinellas.gov/projects/
B-roll video is available here for media use