TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A Titusville city commissioner is taking on the federal government in a fight to keep Playalinda Beach open two hours later.
The beach closes at 6 p.m., and residents said money is being lost because it closes so early. City councilman Matt Barringer agrees, estimating that thousands of tourist dollars are lost every month.
The federal government isn't budging on the time change, saying there isn't space for it in the budget.
The federal sequestration forced national parks to cut 5 percent off of their budgets, and there isn't room for more seasonal workers in the Canaveral National Seashore's budget, officials said.
Playalinda Beach is a popular surfing destination for surfers like Robin Barrett, who would love to see the beach extend its hours.
"They blow the whistles and things, and they just let us know, and sometimes they pull us in, and they kick us out," Barrett said. "It would be an awesome place to be in. To be able to stay out here till 7 or 8 would be tight, would be awesome."
Barringer sent a petition to extend the beach hours to his constituents for backing, and the petition got 1,000 signatures in fewer than 30 days.
The petition was sent with an official request to Sen. Bill Nelson's and Rep. Bill Posey's offices, but they have not yet decided how to approach it.
WFTV
