Paid parking considered on Anna Maria Island

Manatee County is looking at the possibility of converting free beach access parking lots on Anna Maria Island into paid lots.

“The CVB is evaluating paid parking for Anna Maria Island,” Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique said. “The main reason is we’re looking at ways to make parking more self-sufficient at the beach. The main cost that beaches create for us is one of providing general maintenance, so ensuring that the parking spots are clear and visible, the signage is visible and, of course, the biggest one is trash and maintenance of facilities.”

Siddique said the county is currently dipping into general funds to pay for parking lot maintenance and that establishing paid parking would make those lots self-sufficient. 

“As we’re looking towards possible property tax elimination and trying to find ways to shift certain things to fees, parking makes a lot of sense,” Siddique said. “We’re the last man standing when it comes to free parking.”

According to the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, “all segments approaching” the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road on Anna Maria Island is designated as a “congestion-clustered hotspot.” That backup extends across Anna Maria Island and to Longboat Key, and Longboat Key North, a group of condo association representatives and homeowners, voiced their support for paid parking, hoping it may reduce vehicle traffic.

“The paid parking might increase carpooling and incentivize that indirectly so people aren’t all taking six cars to meet at the beach,” Longboat Key North Co-Chair Maureen Merrigan said.