Rules and regulations for the beaches of Anna Maria Island are governed by Florida State Law, the code of ordinances of Manatee County plus the additions and modifications within the 3 cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach, that comprise the municipalities of the island.
The beach is considered a ‘park’ for the purposes of applicable codes and enforcement of rules. Alleys and paths to the beach are included as ‘entryways’. Some special rules apply at the county public beach parks Anna Maria Bayfront Park, Coquina Bayside Park, Coquina Gulfside Park, and Manatee Beach Park where there are facilities and areas zoned for specific uses, and lifeguards.
No lights, unattended chairs and cabanas, screens, umbrellas, between sunset and sunrise during turtle nesting season May 1 to October 31.
Beach Regulations snippets
Park means a park, golf course, playground, beach, recreational center, recreation area, conservation area, preserve or any other area in the county, owned or used by the county, and devoted to active or passive recreation, as designated by the board of county commissioners, and includes all entryways, parking lots, pools, water bodies, maintenance structures and similar areas or structures within or adjoining such parks.
Assembly means a group of persons gathered together for some purpose such as deliberation, legislation, worship, or entertainment.
Pets prohibited. Other than authorized staff or law enforcement personnel, no person shall bring or introduce into a park any off-leash dog, cat, snake or other animal other than in those areas specifically designated for activities involving such animals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person may bring a dog into any park, so long as the dog remains on a leash and under the owner’s control at all times, except for county beaches (including adjacent sidewalks, paths, trails, and RV and general parking areas), athletic fields, or any other area posted “no dogs allowed.” Such owners are responsible for removal and disposal of any waste. Nothing herein shall preclude a person from using or training a service animal in a park as provided for in Florida Statute Section 413.08. Any person in possession of such animal is responsible for controlling the animal and cleaning up and properly disposing of any waste. At no time shall such animals be left unattended.
Vehicle means any wheeled conveyance, whether motor powered, animal drawn, or self-propelled. The term shall include any trailer in tow of any size, kind or description, but shall not include any baby carriage, motorized or nonmotorized wheelchair, or other device required to allow reasonable access to parks or park facilities for persons with disabilities. Bicycles. (a)Confined to roads. No person in the park shall ride a bicycle on other than a paved vehicular road or a path designated for that purpose. Cyclists shall at all times operate their bicycles with reasonable regard to the safety of others and follow bicycle safety standards. (b)Designated racks. No person in the park shall leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack when such is provided and there is a space available.
Wild animals, birds, etc. Unless specifically authorized by the county or to prevent imminent harm to a person’s life or safety, no person shall hunt, molest, harm, capture, frighten, feed, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot, or throw objects at any animal, reptile or bird; nor shall any person remove or have in his possession the young or eggs or nest of any such animal, reptile, or bird. The county may permit hunting and/or fishing in certain designated and controlled park areas.
Removal of natural resources. No person shall dig, damage, remove, displace or destroy any beach sand, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, stone, tree, shrub or plant, or down-timber or other wood or material, or excavate by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means. Exception is made for the building of sand castles or other sand sculptures, except that the sand used for such activities must not be moved from the general vicinity of its source.
Refuse and trash. No person shall dispose of any paper, waste, garbage, trash cigarette butts, debris, or other litter of any kind on any county owned or operated park, beach or recreation area except in proper receptacles. Only such paper, waste, garbage, trash, debris or other litter as may have been created or accumulated in the use of a park, beach or recreation area shall be disposed of in such receptacles. Where receptacles are not so provided, all such material shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of elsewhere.
Fires. Fires are prohibited in any county park, except in such grills, fireplaces, barbecue pits or other similarly designed fire-safe facilities or areas.
Fireworks and explosives. In the absence of a duly issued permit under the Manatee County Fireworks Law, located at sections 2-21-86 through2-21-91 of this Code, and the permission of the director, no person shall possess or set off any fireworks or explosives in any park.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein, it shall not be a violation of this section for persons to transport across and launch from the beaches of the city nonmotorized vessels, including, but not limited to, sailboats, catamarans, canoes, and kayaks. Moreover, it shall not be a violation to use trailers, beach wheels, or other similar transport devices intended to transport the vessel to the water’s edge in order to launch the vessel so long as transport device is not mechanically or electronically powered.
Games. No person in a park shall take part in or abet the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins, or model airplanes except in areas set apart for such forms of recreation.
Lights illuminating buildings or associated grounds for decorative or recreational purposes shall be shielded or screened in such a way as not to project a beam of light directly onto the beach area, or turned off between sunset and sunrise during the period of May 1 to October 31 of each year.
Window treatments in windows facing the gulf are required so that interior lights do not illuminate the beach, or the property owners’ interior lights shall be off between sunset and sunrise during the period of May 1 to October 31 of each year, so they do not have to install additional window treatments.
Any items or temporary structures, including but not limited to screen rooms, beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas, which have the potential for entrapment of marine turtles and which may interfere with the use of the natural beach environment for nesting shall be: (1)Removed from the beach nightly by the owner of the property upon which the item or temporary structure is located. If the item or temporary structure is not located on private property, it may be tagged or removed by a code enforcement officer, or (2)Stored in areas designated by the city which are situated to avoid interference with marine turtles.
Anna Maria in September is usually one of the quietest months of the year, in terms of entertainment and special events. At this time of year much of our entertainment comes from watching the flowers grow, and watching the birds watching the fish.
That’s because, in terms of weather, it is likely to be one of the most active months of the year. It is the peak of hurricane season. It’s still very hot and humid and buggy. It’s likely to be very rainy because the sea breezes from Florida’s east coast and west coast tend to collide along our shoreline at this time of year. The result is turbulence: thunder and lightning. Floridians who want to discourage repeat houseguests have learned to invite them in the month of September. Often, the weather will take care of the rest and those guests will not ever come back.
October is the month in which we finally get some relief from the heat. As the temperatures drop, and the threat of storms lessens, the island starts to come outside to celebrate the joys of life here. One of the first celebrations of the season is Bayfest, on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. Now in its ninth year, Bayfest will be held this 2009 on the weekend of October 16. On Friday night, the kick-off party will feature live music by Bootleg from 7 to 10, with DJ Mike Sales.
Every evening we walk several blocks across Anna Maria Island to the Gulf Beach, where we walk along the water’s edge as the sun approaches the horizon. It’s always interesting to notice what kinds of shells are on the beach at certain times. There are some “regulars,” which are almost always there. And there are some very unusual ones that show up only every once in awhile. But even the unusual ones tend to come in groups. In other words, if there is one, there are many. This happened one evening several years ago when there were beautiful shark’s eyes suddenly on the beach in large numbers.
The shells that usually wash ashore on the beaches of Anna Maria Island include spiny jewelboxes, which are white with spikes protruding. They look like bivalves, but are, in fact gastropods. Another fairly common gastropod shell is the lettered olive, which usually measures almost 2 inches long. We also come across Florida augers quite often, which are small cone-shaped shells.
A wide variety of bivalve shells is also seen at all times. One of the most interesting and charming is the little coquina, which comes in a wide range of pastels and earth tones. There is nothing more enchanting than seeing the live creatures in tidal pools, where they move with the inflow and outflow of the water. Little cat’s paws or kitten’s paws, range in color from white to black to orange. Jingles are translucent shells that come in these same three colors. About the size of a quarter, these round shells look like they’re made of mica.
There are several bivalves with remarkable patterns on them. Although it’s not unusual to see these shells, it is unusual to find one that is not worn. The sunray Venus may be the most beautiful of these shells, with a pattern that really does give the impression of sunrays. Both calico clams and calico scallops are quite common, too. The buttercup has an appealing smooth round shape, and is the color of butter. Less beautiful but more remarkable is the turkey wing, with one very straight edge and an otherwise roughly shaped surface, striped with brown.
Sometimes at this time of year, the residents of Anna Maria Island begin to feel as if they are operating bed and breakfasts. One set of guests leaves and there is barely time to wash and dry the sheets before the next visitors arrive. It is no wonder friends and family from up North want to visit paradise at this time of year but, while the guests are reveling in paradise, their hosts can start to feel as if it’s “paradise lost.” A constant stream of even the most considerate visitors can hinder residents from focusing on their own favorite island activities. Before they know it, the best season is over and it’s time to turn on the air conditioning and retreat inside.
There are many ways to cope with living in a place everyone else wants to visit. One Islander, formerly of Chicago, sent a card to all his friends when he moved here, announcing that they were welcomed to visit in Anna Maria Island, but only if they had previously visited him in Chicago. This was the acid test to prove that the guests were not just using the friendship as an excuse to have free accommodations in paradise. If they really were visiting for reasons of friendship, they would have visited in Chicago, too.
Another way to cope with having too much company is to not have a guest room. Silly as this may sound, it seems to be a possibility that many islanders have seriously considered. They talk openly about it. In fact, in early years, when researching accommodations for guests at the island information center, I explained to the sweet ladies working there that I had no extra room for guests, but that we were planning to build an addition for this purpose. I was surprised to be sternly advised by one of the ladies not to add a room for guests, or I’d be sorry. Maybe she was just trying to promote more business for the island hotels and motels. But I had the feeling she was giving me a sincere warning.
For years, people arriving on Anna Maria Island via any of the bridges have had a wonderful close-up view of the water along the way. In fact, many of the island’s more laid-back residents and visitors express their welcoming of bridge openings, as opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. They don’t mind pausing for a few minutes to appreciate the place in which they have chosen to spend time.
Although the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue has recently been repaired and restored to last another ten years, there already is a major bureaucratic process underway to determine the ultimate future of this bridge. In fact, what happens to the bridge ten years from now is almost settled.
On March 26, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach , the FDOT held the final hearing at which they received public input on options for the Anna Maria Island Bridge ’s future. In addition to filling out questionnaires and comment sheets at the hearing, members of the public spoke and their comments were incorporated into the permanent public record. Those who did not attend the hearing can still enter their feedback into the public record by filling out questionnaires and comment sheets and submitting them to the FDOT by April 9. These forms can be downloaded from the site www.annamariaislandbridge.com. Input also can be given by phoning 863-519-2293.
Wildlife rescue is a whole incredible world of its own on Anna Maria Island. While locals and visitors go about their business every day, several dedicated and generous people devote their time to saving the unfortunate wild animals that encounter problems in bad weather, or when they interact with the plastics, fishing line and hooks that people carelessly leave about.
One of the most amazing booths at recent art fairs on Anna Maria Island has been that of Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. What is amazing is WHO works the booth: owls. There are some good people there, too. But the owl ambassadors who sit all day on their perches are always extremely inspiring to see. They are beautiful creatures, and it’s sometimes hard to believe they are real. It’s also hard to believe that our environment still supports them. This is a treasure for all who live and visit Anna Maria Island, and nobody works harder to protect this treasure of wildlife than Ed and Gail Straight, Beth Weir, and others who volunteer at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation, Inc.
From time to time, during the last ten years on Anna Maria Island, I have contacted wildlife rescue people to come help injured birds in our neighborhood. It seems there is no job too big or too small for them. They have even come to help a tiny warbler that flew into our window. On that particular day, I remember seeing two baby foxes in the wildlife rescuer’s truck.
Anna Maria Island is a great place to spend Spring Break, as long as you’re not looking for a party. Not every college student is an extrovert. Many are looking for something a lot more interesting than joining a herd of students who are experimenting for the first time with alcohol, sex and drugs. For those college students who are mature enough to already be clear about these things, and who are intelligent enough to want to do more with their time than run with the crowds, Anna Maria Island is a lovely destination for Spring Break or any other holiday.
With seven miles of continuous Gulf of Mexico beaches, Anna Maria Island is a beachwalker’s paradise. Whether one walks at sunset or at dawn, the beauty is breath-taking, and ever-changing. Not only does the light change as the day progresses, but also as the weather changes. The wide-open horizon offers a vista in which every cloud for miles around can be seen.
Aside from the West Coast of the United States, there are no other places in the United States where one can watch the sun set over a body of water as large as the Gulf of Mexico. And not every Gulf barrier island has as terrific an aspect from which to view the sun set as Anna Maria Island. Perhaps even more stunning than the sun setting over the Gulf is the view of the full moonrise just before dawn.
In addition to the differences in light, there are many differences in how people can choose to walk the beach. It can be a solitary time for contemplation, or a social time for a good conversation with a friend. It can be a brisk walk or an easy stroll. Barefoot, wading, and walking slowly or with shoes on, avoiding the gentle rise and retreat of foam on the beach. Some walkers are focused on shells. Others are focused on birds. Some run to the beat of a different drum.
In the end, it’s a healthy experience, however it’s done. Even if the heart rate does not rise, blood circulation is stimulated, and the mind is at peace.
Park means a park, golf course, playground, beach, recreational center, recreation area, conservation area, preserve or any other area in the county, owned or used by the county, and devoted to active or passive recreation, as designated by the board of county commissioners, and includes all entryways, parking lots, pools, water bodies, maintenance structures and similar areas or structures within or adjoining such parks.
