Posted on October 21, 2024
COCOA BEACH, Fla. — After officials spent more than a week assessing damage from Milton, parts of the Canaveral National Seashore are about to reopen.
The hurricane’s strong winds damaged areas of the popular recreation and beach spot.
Mounds of sand eroded and washed up on the beach road, forcing the National Park Service to shut down the parking areas of Apollo Beach and Playalinda Beach.
NPS crews have been working for the past several days to clear the sand, plus remove downed trees and repair damaged boardwalks.
The park has been closed for the safety of visitors and staff.
Jose Gotay’s family is visiting from Colombia and staying with him in Cocoa Beach. He wanted to give them a sightseeing tour of the Space Coast.
“The fishing is great, and the beach is nice and clear and calm,” Gotay said.
But he was met with a locked gate on the seashore.
It’s not just Milton that caused problems, a recent storm is creating higher tides and washed out the Playalinda section again.
The park service also says an estimated 700 sea turtle nests were lost during Milton.
They are planning to reopen Apollo Beach and Playalinda at 6 a.m. Saturday. Parking will be limited as repairs are ongoing.
