DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Beachgoers heading to Volusia County this Labor Day weekend may have a tougher time finding a parking spot on the beach.
Volusia County officials are blocking off about 125 beach parking spaces over the holiday weekend as part of a plan they say is designed to improve safety during one of the busiest times of the year.
The county first tested the reduced parking plan over the July Fourth weekend. Officials say it worked and decided to bring it back for Labor Day.
The decision comes months after a deadly incident on the beach.
On Memorial Day weekend, a 2-year-old child was killed after being struck in a traffic lane on the beach.
County officials say the tragedy highlighted the need to create more space and improve safety, particularly for families with young children.
“We do need all the parking we can get on the beach, but we’re really about public safety at this point, especially for families with small children,” said Tammy Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office also supports the parking restrictions, saying the trade-off is worth it if it helps keep beachgoers safe.
However, some local business owners disagree with the approach.
They say limiting the number of parking spaces can discourage visitors from coming to the area and could have an impact on their bottom line during a busy holiday weekend.
County officials acknowledge that reducing parking comes with a cost, but say safety remains the priority.
And if the plan continues to be used on other busy weekends, the parking restrictions could become the new normal along Volusia County’s beaches.
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