The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners voted on April 15 to convey ownership of Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park to the City of Key West, with the transition set for May 1, 2026. The park, located on the Atlantic Ocean in Key West, covers about 16.5 acres and includes the Reynolds Street Pier.
This move is intended to streamline management by placing control of the beach with local officials who serve the immediate community. The county will now focus on managing parks and beaches in unincorporated areas.
Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley said, “This agreement reflects a common-sense approach to local government that places the park in the hands of the governing body closest to the Key West residents and the community it directly serves.”
As part of this transition, grant funding and insurance money collected over several years for Higgs Beach will be transferred from Monroe County to Key West. Funds from Hurricane Ian insurance claims are designated for repairing storm-damaged infrastructure at Higgs Beach, including seawall patching and design work for repairs at Reynolds Street Pier. The county also plans to amend existing Tourist Development Council (TDC) grant agreements so that projects such as improvements at the beach pavilion, West Martello, and Reynolds Street Pier can continue under city oversight.
Additionally, Monroe County will coordinate with state transportation officials on transferring a grant related to pier repair construction. The city will take over building a recreational field previously planned by the county and assume responsibility for current tenants at Higgs Beach—including Salute restaurant, Salute Watersports, and the Key West Garden Club—while ongoing TDC operating funds will shift from county use toward supporting staffing and maintenance needs managed by Key West.
The agreement outlines an effort by both governments to ensure long-term care for one of Key West’s most significant public spaces while clarifying responsibilities between city and county authorities.
