Escambia pursues millions in RESTORE funds to give public more access to Perdido Key Beach

Many people have memories of enjoying Perdido Key Beach with their families as a kid, including Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. However, commissioners say more public access is needed to give those who can only afford to visit more opportunities to enjoy it.

As development and the number of private property owners has grown over the years, Bergosh and others say it has become harder for local families and other visitors to the Key to access public beaches.

“People want more public beach access for a couple of reasons,” Bergosh explained. “Number one, the four access points that we have are just not sufficient, and when the National Seashore parking area is full, they close the gates, and they turn people around because there's not enough parking for them throughout the rest of the beach and that can cause traffic to back up for miles.”

Bergosh believes creating more parking and public beach access points on Perdido Key will help, along with improving the beach access areas that are already there.

Escambia County Commissioners recently approved requesting $3.6 million in RESTORE Act funds, money set aside for Gulf Coast communities impacted by the BP oil spill, to provide more parking and public access points to the beaches on Perdido Key.

“Right now, we have a parking issue, and a lot of people park illegally,” said Bergosh. “If we provide the appropriate amount of access out there and parking, it will diminish that problem.”

Not everyone is pleased with the plan. If the RESTORE Act money comes through, some property owners would like to see it put to other uses.

Members of the Perdido Key Association, which represents property owners, believe there is already enough public access on Perdido Key between county access and state parks.

“In 2020, a survey of Perdido Key property owners found little support for more locations, only 25%,” said Charles Krupnick, a director on the Perdido Key Association board. “Only 29% supported expanding current beach access locations and 75% of those who responded want to keep Perdido Key pretty much as it is. It’s hoped that any RESTORE or other funding for Perdido Key considers the opinions of Perdido Key residents and property owners as well as the objectives of the Perdido Key Master Plan.”

More public access to Perdido Key beaches than ever before

In the past there have been several clashes between the public and private property owners over access to the beaches.

The recent discovery of the original deeds to some Gulf front properties revealed there are 75-foot public access easements, which opened up about 1.2 miles of beach on Perdido Key that was previously thought exclusive.

Last year, a judge ruled a multi-million-dollar public beach access area on Perdido Key would remain open to the public. The Seafarer Condos Owners Association had filed a lawsuit to stop development of the access site, saying it violated the county’s land development code.

Escambia County also took steps to limit the number of “no trespassing” signs property owners can put up on the beach to let visitors know where public beach access ends and private property begins.

Prior to the new ordinance, some people complained there were so many so signs it was cluttering the beach and making it difficult for people to access public portions of it.

“We've got a lot more publicly accessible beach out there now than we ever did before and I know that's creating some consternation among the residents,” said Bergosh. “While I respect the Perdido Key Association and the surveys, I respect more the will of the voters on the Westside and opening up beach front access for their enjoyment is a top priority.”

Bergosh said the county also has plans to tear down permanent public bathrooms at the access points and replace them with portable toilets. It’s a move the county hopes will cut down on costs after repeated vandalism at the public bathrooms ran up tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

Escambia County staff is currently working to identify properties that could be purchased for public access.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Perdido Key beaches don't have enough public access, Escambia says