Ending confusion, city says Tampa’s beaches open at 2 p.m.

TAMPA — Tampa isn’t known for its beaches. But as the state started reopening Monday, the status of the city’s four beaches was a puzzle.

Open or closed? The city didn’t have a clear answer until nearly 1 p.m.

After a morning of confusion, a city news release announced the city’s four beaches would open at 2 p.m.

That mostly aligns with what Mayor Jane Castor told a Facebook Live audience Friday afternoon.

“We are also opening our beaches. And we will have code enforcement and law enforcement monitoring to make sure we don’t have large crowd gatherings there," Castor said in her appearance, watched by hundreds and reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

But Monday morning, Castor spokeswoman Ashley Bauman said the beaches remained closed. She pointed to a Friday news release which detailed the partial park reopening but didn’t mention beaches.

When asked to explain Castor’s comments, Bauman said she would seek clarification.

Bauman said she was unaware of anyone being turned away from the beaches at Ben T. Davis, Picnic Island, Davis Islands and Cypress Point.

“We generally don’t have beaches where people go first thing in the morning,” Bauman said.

The city sent out a release three hours later announcing the 2 p.m beach openings.

The confusion over Tampa’s beaches is the latest chapter in Castor’s responses to whether the city’s open spaces should be reopened in the face of a pandemic.

Last Wednesday, she told the Times that the parks and beaches would remain closed to prevent large crowds gathering. Castor said she saw reopening them as a “Phase 2” step, referring to federal guidelines outlining how communities should proceed to operate safely in gradual steps.

But two days later she reversed that position in her FaceBook Live appearance.

Bauman said the mayor had been concerned about large crowds gathering on Bayshore Boulevard and the Riverwalk, trails that had remained open during the crisis. She had also read scientific data about the lower outdoor transmission rates of coronavirus, Bauman said in explaining the mayor’s change of heart.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HAVE YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO COVID-19?: Help us remember them

UNEMPLOYMENT Q&A: We answer your questions about Florida unemployment benefits

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCRAPBOOK: Help us tell the story of life under coronavirus

BRIGHT SPOTS IN DARK TIMES: The world is hard right now, but there’s still good news out there

LISTEN TO THE CORONAVIRUS PODCAST: New episodes every week, including interviews with experts and reporters

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information, six days a week

WATCH VIDEO: How some in Tampa Bay are finding light amid isolation

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.