Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Protecting Public Beach Access 


Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.Open Shores of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Protecting Public Beach Access 


Latest Update - May, 2026

Charlotte County has formally recognized the Boca Grande beach access issue and initiated a resolution process with Lee County in April 2026 under Florida Chapter 164. 


This marks an important shift from public concern to an official inter-county review of:  


  • Public beach access
  • ADA accessibility
  • Parking availability and real-world use 


The process is now in a resolution phase, where both counties have an opportunity to work toward meaningful solutions.


The focus now is ensuring this process results in real improvements—not delay. 

About Open Shores SWFL

Group of people forming a circle with their hands, smiling upwards.

Our Mission

  

Open Shores of Southwest Florida is dedicated to protecting and preserving public beach access on Gasparilla Island and surrounding coastal communities.  


We work to ensure public rights-of-way remain accessible, decision-making remains transparent , and residents and visitors can continue to enjoy Florida’s coastline as intended.


What's Happening

Recent changes to parking and access on Gasparilla Island continue to affect practical public beach access.


At a recent joint meeting, Charlotte County formally acknowledged these concerns and placed key issues into the official public record, including: 


  • Changes in public parking availability
  • Accessibility challenges for seniors, disabled visitors, and mobility-limited users  
  • The need for a clear understanding of parking conditions before and after the ordinance 
  • Potential impacts to beach nourishment funding  
  • Evaluation of practical alternatives, including a state-owned parcel for possible public access  


This is no longer just a public concern—it is now an active inter-county issue under review.


Open Shores of Southwest Florida remains focused on:  


  • Transparency in how decisions are made
  • Accountability through data and documented conditions 
  • Practical solutions that preserve meaningful public access 


Community observations continue to play an important role in ensuring that real-world conditions—not just policy—are understood and considered.


Our focus remains simple: preserving meaningful public beach access—access that is usable, accessible, and available in practice. 

Parking Conditions on Gasparilla Island

The video below reflects real-world parking and access 

conditions currently being experienced on Gasparilla Island. 

The video above reflects current parking and access conditions across Gasparilla Island.


These conditions are now part of an active inter-county review process following action by Charlotte County.


Across the island, a consistent pattern has been observed:


  • Public parking areas reaching capacity 
  • Previously used access areas now underutilized 
  • Visitors and residents adjusting behavior due to access limitations 


These real-world conditions help show how access is functioning in practice—not just on paper.

Support This Effort

 Open Shores of Southwest Florida is a volunteer-led community effort working to preserve meaningful public beach access.


Current efforts include:


  Real-world condition documentation
Public records and research
Communication with agencies and decision-makers
Public awareness and outreach 


Your support helps sustain this effort and ensures continued 

advocacy for accessible public shoreline.


Donations help support outreach, documentation, and advocacy efforts.

donate online

Prefer to Donate by Check:

 Checks can be made payable to:


Open Shores of Southwest Florida
8725 Placida Rd, Suite 7430
Placida, FL 33946


Open Shores of Southwest Florida is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. 

Donations are not tax-deductible.

Help Protect Public Beach Access

Take the Beach Access Survey

Take the Business/Employee Survey

Take the Business/Employee Survey

 Share your experience to help document real-world beach access and parking impacts. 

Take The Survey

Take the Business/Employee Survey

Take the Business/Employee Survey

Take the Business/Employee Survey

 Help us understand how these changes are affecting local businesses and employees. 

take the business/employee survey

ADA / Mobility Access Survey

ADA / Mobility Access Survey

ADA / Mobility Access Survey

Share experiences related to mobility challenges, ADA access, and beach accessibility conditions on Gasparilla Island. 

take the ADA SURVEY (NEW)

Volunteer with Open Shores

ADA / Mobility Access Survey

ADA / Mobility Access Survey

 Join our efforts to protect public beach access and support community action—at whatever level feels right for you. 

Volunteer with open shores

What We Are Documenting

Our focus is on real-world conditions and how access is functioning in practice.


Current documentation efforts include:


  • Public beach access and how it is working in real conditions 
  • ADA accessibility for disabled and mobility-limited visitors 
  • Changes in available parking before and after the ordinance 
  • Impacts on local businesses, workers, and visitors 
  • Visitor, resident, and business experiences, including feedback gathered through community surveys

Key Questions Under Review

 As part of the current process, several important questions remain:


  • How much public parking existed before the ordinance—and how much remains today? 
  • Are current parking options providing meaningful access, or only limited availability in practice? 
  • Are ADA and mobility needs being met in real-world conditions? 
  • What practical solutions can help restore accessible public beach access?

Why This Matters

Public beach access is a long-standing right under Florida law.


Open Shores of Southwest Florida is working to ensure access to Gasparilla Island’s beaches remains meaningful, fair, and available to everyone. 

 

Meaningful public access requires more than simply owning a beach — people must be able to reasonably reach it.

Follow the Movement on Facebook

 Stay updated on beach access issues, community efforts, and important developments affecting Gasparilla Island.


Follow us on Facebook for real-time updates and ways to stay involved.

follow Open Shores On facebook

Supporting fair and practical public beach access on Gasparilla Island. 

Copyright © 2026 Open Shores Southwest Florida, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.

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