Coquina South Boat Ramp to Grow in Size, Safety Restrictions

BRADENTON – Safety remains a primary issue at the Coquina South boat docks due to the water's persistent riptide currents, and a ban on swimming was recommended by county officials at Tuesday's BOCC meeting.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore said that locals would not like a ban on swimming in the water. County officials answered that the current is unpredictable and drops off to 20 feet quickly. An accident is waiting to happen there, they said.

Coming changes to Coquina South Boat Ramp/Bayside Park are not limited to swimming. The park is growing with larger trailer capacity and more docks, and will no longer be a mixed use park. No longer will cars be allowed to crowd entrance and exit roads leading to the docks or the beaches, and the barbecue pits will be taken from the dockside only.

Reconfiguring and defining trailer parking was the goal of a meeting held by the county's Parks and Natural Resources Department on July 8. In attendance were county Public Safety Department staff and Bradenton Beach Mayor Jack Clarke.

There will be removal of some of the park's Australian Pines, 15 additional trailer parking spaces and a promise of a safer environment. Something else will be new: tow away zones.

There will be fences skirting the sand dunes and no swimming or wadding in beach water. Coquina South will be restricted to boats (all kinds) only.

Just 400 yards north of Coquina South is Coquina North, where the launching of canoes, kayaks, and boards will take place. Park officials say it is just far enough away from the tidal currents to better situate vessels.

Both the county and the City of Bradenton Beach say the focus of the changes is safety.