Brevard County policy group to discuss reopening beachside parking, playgrounds

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County commissioners are ready to reopen access to beachside parking, remove barricades around playgrounds and allow the public back in county offices.

Just how quickly all of that will happen depends on the county’s policy group.

Commissioners met Thursday afternoon to discuss a plan for reopening Brevard County, which put restrictions in place but never implemented a local stay-at-home order.

“A lot of counties around us, they closed golf courses. They closed parks. They had restrictions on beaches. We never closed our golf courses. We never closed our beaches. We never closed parks,” said Don Walker, director of communications.

Read: Governor says phase 1 of reopening can begin May 4: What that means for Central Florida

The county did close playgrounds and beachside parking access.

If county commissioners have their way when the police board meets Friday, those restrictions could be lifted beginning at noon Friday.

Some local beachside municipalities asked the county to wait on reopening its beachside parking.

The county’s policy group will decide how quickly it reopens beachside parking Friday.

As for the restriction placed on leisure, travelers at hotels and other short-term accommodations, it expires with the governor’s order on May 4.

Brevard County offices could be open to the public by May 18.

“The main thing is safety, not just for our citizens, but also for our employees,” Walker said.

When county offices reopen to the public, they may be open by appointment only.

The policy group meets at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Cox Media Group