Englewood community rallies for the reopening of parking and beach access points at Englewood Beach (Chadwick Park)

Via Email

We respectfully submit this letter on behalf of the Englewood, Florida, community regarding the prolonged closure of the parking lot and beach access points at Englewood Beach, Chadwick Park.

As of today, it has been over seven months since the park was initially closed due to damage from Hurricane Milton, and nearly two months since any visible progress has been made—aside from the limited reopening of a single beach access point and 25 parking spaces at the south end of the park on April 2nd.

Since then, there has been no presence of workers, equipment, or materials on-site to suggest that repair efforts are ongoing.

We also wish to highlight that all other beach areas north and south of Englewood Beach—including 7 miles of Boca Grande beaches and 5 miles in Venice—have been fully reopened, while this stretch of coastline, measuring approximately 1,500 feet (including a 900ft boardwalk) remains largely inaccessible.  It is believed by many in this community that this disregard and ongoing closure is both intentional and malicious.

Englewood Beach is more than just a stretch of sand and sea—it’s the epicenter of our community. For families, it’s where memories are made: kids learning to swim, grandparents watching sunsets, friends gathering for picnics, and neighbors bonding over morning walks. For young people, it’s a safe and healthy space for recreation and social connection. This is EXTREMELY important as thousands of local kids will be out of school on May 29th and not have this space available to them.  For older residents, it’s a place of peace, reflection, and daily routine. Economically, it supports small businesses, attracts tourism, drives local real estate and sustains local jobs. When access to the beach is restricted, it doesn’t just close a gate—it disrupts the heartbeat of a coastal town and impacts the physical, mental, and financial well-being of all who call Englewood home.  These impacts are reaching a critical point and emergency intervention is needed from you now!

We are urgently requesting immediate intervention and action to open the beach parking lot and beach access points.  We respectfully call upon you—our elected leaders—to advocate on our behalf and ensure that this vital community asset is restored without further delay. Englewood cannot afford to wait any longer.  It should be known that the beach parking lot is clear and access points would only need sand to make access safe.

Respectfully,

Englewood Florida Community

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