Another beach is reopening in Key West. But not for tourists
A group played volleyball on Smathers Beach on Tuesday evening, a day after the city of Key West reopened its beaches to locals but told people to maintain proper social distance: six feet away from one another unless they’re immediate family.
As of Monday, Key West’s beaches were open for locals after a six-week shutdown due to the pandemic.
And come Wednesday, the last beach in the city to close will reopen, Monroe County leaders said.
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, which borders Atlantic Boulevard near the Edward B. Knight Pier and the county dog parks, is set to reopen Wednesday. It’s a county beach and was only closed March 27 at the request of the city.
The pier has also reopened.
“I think it took everybody a little by surprise but they did it and that’s fine,” said Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers of her hometown, Key West, reopening Smathers, Simonton and South beaches without notice.
“As long as people do what they’re supposed to do and social distance there’s no reason they can’t be outdoors on beaches, swimming and walking on the beach, getting a little exercise,” Carruthers said.
The Florida Keys remain closed to tourists and non-residents who don’t own property or work along the island chain. Two police checkpoints are up on U.S. 1 and County Road 905.
In fact, when news spread Monday that the city had decided to reopen its beaches, some Miami-area people jumped in their cars and tried to get past the checkpoints, believing the entire Keys had reopened.
They were mistaken and turned away.
Higgs is owned by Monroe County, which decided to keep its beaches open during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“We don’t have the crowds Miami has,” Carruthers said. “We’re doing this so our residents can stay healthy.”
City Manager Greg Veliz announced Monday that Key West was reopening its beaches and parks, saying locals deserve the chance to enjoy them.
People don’t have to wear face masks and are free to sunbathe, swim and walk the beaches. They must, however, maintain proper social distance.
That means, people must stay six feet apart from one another unless they are immediate family members, the city said.
Two Key West police officers walked Smathers Beach on Monday to monitor the two dozen or so people who were spending time on the sand and in the surf.
“I was there at around 2 p.m. and everyone was nicely spaced out,” said Anna Hillman, who lives in Key West. “It was also fun to watch the kite boarders. Police are doing a great job of patrolling the area.”
The feedback from locals on the Smathers reopening was mostly positive, Mayor Teri Johnston said.
“Pretty good,” Johnston said. “They just want to make sure that we are not relaxing orders that would bring visitors to our island until it is safe.”
Mallory Square also has reopened, but the nightly Sunset Celebration festival isn’t allowed yet, said city spokeswoman Alyson Crean.
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 4:55 PM.
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