MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — John’s Pass Village in Madeira Beach is a popular tourist destination. When it comes to parking, Captain Dylan Hubbard, the owner of Hubbard’s Marina and a fourth-generation resident, expresses the frustration shared by many.
“Parking can be crazy. Parking is crazy even outside this season around here. It's definitely a big challenge.," Hubbard said.
Hubbard added during the busy season, which is typically between February and May, parking lots often fill up by 10 a.m., leaving visitors circling the area searching for a spot.
Mary Nelson, from Lincoln, Nebraska says she visits the area often and is well aware of the parking challenges.
"We came in this morning to go parasailing. We're trying to figure out where should we park,” she said.
On previous visits, Nelson has had to drive around until a spot opens up, hoping to claim it before someone else does.
In response to these issues, Madeira Beach city leaders have earmarked funds from a parking fee increase several years ago to build a new parking garage. However, the location of this garage is still under debate.
One proposal suggests building it in the middle of John’s Pass Village, but this idea has not been well received. Another proposal is to place the garage on the other side of Gulf Boulevard, but this raises safety concerns about visitors crossing the busy road.
Limited parking spaces have also led to skyrocketing prices, with nearby residents trying to cash in by charging for parking. “Private residences in the back of John’s Pass start charging for parking because they can and because there's just nowhere to park,” says Hubbard.
Another potential solution is building a parking garage across the street from John’s Pass and adding a sky bridge to the village. However, there are challenges with this plan, as there is no clear landing spot for the sky bridge.
Preliminary plans included a structure that could hold 200 to 500 spaces with retail spaces below. There is concern, however, that a new structure could change the character of the village.
“I think we'd want it in the shopping area, and if you can add more shopping places, that'd be great,” suggests Nelson.
For now, city leaders are still working through the details and plan to host a series of public meetings before making a final decision. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.