When the pandemic first started, cities on Anna Maria Island removed much of their beach parking to control crowds. 

Since then, all of the cities reopened the parking spots — except for Holmes Beach. 

“The beaches belong to everyone in Manatee County. They always have, and they always should,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.

Van ostenbridge says since the City of Holmes beach removed hundreds of parking spaces, thousands of people have been struggling to secure parking spots.

A few months back, Senator Bill Galvano sent the city a leader, urging leaders to reopen parking.

This week, Commissioner Van Ostenbridge did the same.

Tourist Kristen Stimen says it’s clear the issue remains.

“You can’t even find a place to park a golf cart,” she said.

But the mayor of Holmes beach isn’t on board with reopening the spots.

“Absolutely, no way we can do that,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said.

She says when all the spots were available, crowds increased and the streets turned into parking lots — frustrating residents. 

“The answer is not to add more additional parking; it’s to add more alternative transportation,” she says.  

Tourism in the county has skyrocketed this year, with more than 30,000 cars driving onto the island every weekend. 

“Is it fair that we make these owners’ homes become a parking lot?” Titsworth asked.

The commissioner and the mayor plan to meet to discuss the issue. It’s not clear when that meeting will take place.