COLLIER COUNTY. FLA. — A proposed parking garage at Clam Pass Park in Collier County could double the number of visitors to the popular beach park - and that concerns some environmentalists. County officials want to build a three-story garage to accommodate 398 parking spaces, but the Audubon Society of the Western Everglades is concerned about the impact on a number of migrating bird species, such as the threatened black skimmer.
"We've noticed that Clam Pass has the largest flock of black skimmer in the state of Florida," said Adam DiNuovo, a biologist with the Audubon Society. "Birds from New York, New Jersey....and other eastern states all spend their winter at Clam Pass Park."
Brad Cornell, policy director for the Audubon Society of the Western Everglades, said that adding more parking could upset the habitat of the migrating birds.
"Adding more people is our concern," he said. "We think there's already maximum capacity, in terms of how many people you can fit on that beach."
But Collier officials want to make sure access to their beaches can keep pace with its increasing population and tourism.
"Beach access is in short supply in Collier County," Daniel Christenbury, a county spokesman, wrote in an emailed statement to Fox 4. "The Board of County Commissioners directed staff to look into expanding parking opportunities near the beach."
He said the cost of the proposed garage is unknown, but that the Vanderbilt Beach parking garage cost around $8 million when it was built fifteen years ago.
Christenbury said that staff has been working with neighborhoods near Clam Pass Park to gather input on the project. Once staff completes their research, he wrote, they will present it to the Board of County Commissioners, likely in June.
