Fort, Dog Beach, Piers Reopen At Fort De Soto Park: Pinellas Officials

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — After extensive repairs and cleanup following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the historic fort, dog beach and both fishing piers at Fort De Soto Park reopened Monday, according to a Pinellas County news release.

These amenities had been closed to the public since September.

The park’s causeway, boat ramp, East Beach and Area 3 of the campground reopened late last year. Some areas of the park, including North Beach, are still closed.

Visitors should exercise caution throughout the park as there may still be some storm debris in reopened areas, the county said.

Starting Jan. 1, daily parking fees at Fort De Soto Park, Sand Key Park, Fred Howard Park and county boat ramps increased to $6 per vehicle. This is the first increase in more than 14 years and establishes a flat rate across all paid parking areas managed by the county’s Parks and Conservation Resources.

The prices for annual and six-month passes remain unchanged, offering a cost-effective option for frequent visitors.

The county’s beach access parks at Madeira Beach, Redington Shores and Indian Rocks Beach remain closed during storm-related repairs.

All other county parks have reopened, although some facilities may still be closed for repair, including some bathrooms at Fred Howard Park.