MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – South Floridians can now plan their next day at the beach.
Broward County will reopen its beaches on Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day. Gyms and hotels can also open, with restrictions, that day.
Miami-Dade County is targeting June 1 for its beaches and hotels.
Broward’s beaches will be open from sunrise to sunset for limited activities, which include swimming, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding and body surfing. Walking, running and biking are also OK.
Picnics, sunbathing and lying out on the beach will not be allowed at first, according to the order signed by County Administrator Bertha Henry. That means no umbrellas, chairs or coolers, either. Social distancing must be maintained, and groups cannot be 10 people or larger.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the mayors of his county’s coastal cities will discuss their rules this weekend after agreeing to a June 1 target date.
“The city managers will be meeting with county staff and medical experts over the weekend to create the rules that would be necessary for the safe and secure reopening of beaches and the expansion of hotel accommodations,” the county said in a news release. “The group will meet with Mayor Gimenez again on Tuesday to go over the proposed plan. We will continue to update the community on the progress of these discussions.”
That Miami-Dade target date is a week after Memorial Day and two weeks after the county allowed retail, restaurants and other services to open at limited capacity.
Hotels are also allowed to reopen to non-essential guests on those dates set forth by the counties.
Along with the beaches and hotels, Broward County is opening commercial gyms and fitness centers, with restrictions, when its new order goes into place Tuesday at 12:01 a.m.
[Read Broward County’s full order with rules and restrictions for beaches, gyms and hotels below.]
Beaches in Miami-Dade and Broward have been closed since mid-March, when South Florida began shutting down because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“I have never seen the water so blue before, so I’m kinda curious to see what happens when the beaches open back up again,” said Miami-Dade resident Jake Kohn.
Up north in Palm Beach County, Boca Raton and Delray Beach opened their beaches this week.
The openings are welcome news to locals, as a quiet Ocean Drive and a bare beach are in stark contrast to what we’re used to seeing.
“I work in the tourism industry so, selfishly, yes. But in terms of public health a safety I totally understand why we have done what we have done and taken the measures that we have taken,” said Miami-Dade resident Ryan Lettow.