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South Patrick Residents Association
Supporting Community & Accountability
Supporting Community & Accountability
South Patrick Residents Association (SPRA) is a 501 (c) (4) nonprofit that represents residents in South Patrick Shores. SPRA was first incorporated in 1965 and has been actively involved in community service for over 50 years.
SPRA serves households located within County Commission District 4 in unincorporated Brevard County and works closely with county elected officials, state elected officials, and government agencies, in order to further the best interests of our community. Our all-volunteer association continues to be a powerful and influential voice representing our area’s interests in local government affairs, as well as helping to make needed improvements in our community. We also communicate directly with the homeowner associations located within South Patrick Shores to ensure that there is a solid working relationship and a united voice on issues that impact the entire area.
In addition, a strong membership helps support our united effort to enhance the SPRA area and to further assure that our voices are heard and that we maintain a quality location in which to live, work, and play.
Golf Cart and LSV Update for South Patrick Shores (SPS) by Rick Mariani
As per County ordinance: Use of a golf cart on our streets or side walks in the unincorporated County area of South Patrick Shores is prohibited by Brevard County Ordinance 106-73. LSVs may not drive on SR513 (South Patrick Drive) or the adjacent sidewalks. Both golf Carts and LSVs may only be driven by individuals with a valid driver’s license. The Brevard County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) requests residents who observe traffic safety violations, particularly violations of the above Brevard County Ordinance to call 321-633-7162 ext. 4 to aid in BCSO’s enforcement efforts.
Definitions: A Golf Cart is designed and intended to be driven on golf courses or in and near Golf Cart communities, but only with special permissions on designated streets and multi-use paths, which are required to post signs alerting pedestrians and motorists to this permitted use.
Florida Statute 316.212, Golf Carts
- A golf cart may only operate on a road designated by the county... (none of our roads, whether County or state like SR 513, our section of SR A1A, or sidewalks adjacent to A1A are designated multi-use for permitting golf cart traffic.)
- A golf cart may not be operated on road or streets by a person:
- Who is under 18 years of age, unless he or she possesses a valid learner's drivers license or valid drivers license.
Definitions: A LSV “low speed vehicle” looks like a golf cart but has required safety gear installed and is capable of going up to 25 MPH and authorized to drive on roads with speeds no greater then 35 MPH (10 MPH more than it’s top speed for no more than 1mile.) An LSV must be registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles, display a license plate, and be properly insured.
Florida Statues 316.2122 Low Speed Vehicles LSVs are permitted on roads with posted speed limits up to 35 MPH but are not permitted on sidewalks. LSVs may not drive on SR 513 or on the adjacent sidewalks. LSVs may only be driven by individuals with a valid driver’s license.
BCSO and SPRA thank you for helping to keep our community safe. BCSO can be reached at 321-633-7162 ext. 4.
South Patrick Shores Updates
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FUDS: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed the Sampling Phase 1 of fieldwork in the Naval Air Station Banana River Off-Base Disposal Area April 25. This phase included digging 10 test pits based on the analysis of the data from the previously conducted ground penetrating radar survey and historical aerial imagery. Teams observed debris in nine of the ten test pits which mostly consisted of ceramic; glass; and unidentifiable, corroded metal pieces. The debris appeared in two distinct layers. We are evaluating the data and will prepare a technical memorandum presenting the fieldwork results and making recommendations.
Please visit the project website for more information (www.saj.usace.army.mil/BananaRiver). If you have any questions or concerns, please email FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil or call 800.710.5184.
Formerly Used Defense Sites Program
Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
800.710.5184
FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil - Grand Canal Dredging Update: Dredging began in March in the canal between Skylark/Sandpiper and continues in the canals between Sandpiper/Cardinal and Cardinal/Penguin. Gator Dredging will move to the north/south canals at the end of the Grand Canal to continue to dredge Thrush, Sparrow, Eagle & Finch.
- Berkeley Canal stormwater concrete flume: The flume along Jolly Rodger is broken on the northeast side of the Jolly Roger bridge. It is dislodged and not allowing proper drainage into the Berkeley Canal. SPRA reported this issue to Commissioner Feltner’s office for assessment and repair.
- Boating/Watercraft Reminder: The legal wake zones throughout our canals are slow speed minimum wake zones, especially with the seasonal dredging that began in March. This slow speed helps to protect wildlife, mangrove vegetation, and property along our waterways.
- Community Projects: Project suggestions through area directors are welcome.
No Motor Vehicles Sidewalk Signs
Brevard County recently installed five, 2-sided signs at selected sidewalk locations stating that No Motor Vehicles are permitted to drive on South Patrick Shores sidewalks.
Golf carts are not lawfully permitted on our local sidewalks, with the intent to ensure safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others using these sidewalks.
The map below indicates the location of these new signs.
South Patrick Drive (S.R. 513) Road Improvements
Financial Project Identification (FPID) Number: 448792-1
Financial Project Identification (FPID) Number: 448792-1
https://www.cflroads.com/project/448792-1
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proposing improvements on South Patrick Drive (StateRoad (S.R.) 513) from Eau Gallie Boulevard (S.R. 518) to Patrick Space Force Base for a distance of 5.253 miles. The purpose of the project is to extend the life of the existing roadway by resurfacing the pavement. To enhance safety and mobility, FDOT also plans to narrow certain travel lanes to accommodate bicycle lanes, as well as reconstruct and upgrade curbs and pedestrian curb ramps to comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Project Contact Information: Samuel Jumber, P.E., FDOT Project Manager 1-386-943-5244 Samuel.Jumber@dot.state.fl.us
Satellite Beach-Imposed Fees at Hightower/Pelican Parks Won't Come at Cost for County Residents
BREVARD COUNTY, FL. – Brevard County residents are eligible for free parking and beach access at Hightower Beach Park and Pelican Beach Park even as the City of Satellite Beach implements a Beach Parking Fee Program for out-of-town visitors to its beachside parks.
Annual Parking Permits are available online effective today (Friday, Sept. 1.) Permit applications require a minimum of 72 hours to be processed. The hourly and daily parking rates will be implemented on Friday, Sept, 15.
Both Hightower Beach Park and Pelican Beach Park are former county-owned properties, which were deeded to the City of Satellite Beach in 2013. Parking at these locations will remain free for all Brevard County residents with proper passes, which can be obtained at the City of Satellite Beach parking website. Passes will be required for other Satellite Beach beachside parking areas.
Satellite Beach is implementing these daily parking rates (effective Sept. 15):
- Brevard County residents are eligible to obtain a free annual pass that will allow parking at Hightower Beach East Parking Lot and Pelican Beach Park without being required to pay the daily parking rates.
- For anyone residing outside of Satellite Beach city limits, the annual pass rate is $75 for access to ALL of the beach parking areas within the City of Satellite Beach, or $2.50 per hour with a maximum of $10 per day. A mobile phone convenience fee of $0.35 will be added to each mobile phone payment.
- Brevard County residents wishing to visit any other beachside park within Satellite Beach will need to purchase an annual pass at the rate of $75, or pay $2.50 per hour with a maximum of $10 per day.
- City of Satellite Beach residents are eligible to obtain a free annual pass that will allow parking at all beach accesses and parking areas without being required to pay the daily parking rates.
All rate customers can pay either through an App, by phone, or through kiosks that will be provided at Pelican, Hightower, and Shell Street in Satellite Beach.
For questions on the Beach Parking Fee Program or how to obtain a beach parking pass, please call (321) 425-2522. Annual Parking Permits may be applied for any time of the year. (Public notice sent by Brevard County)
Tree Planting Community Project
The Tree Planting Community Project for Earth Day was held on April 8th, 2023 at 9:00 AM at the South Patrick Community Park, with many willing volunteers in attendance who prepared the soil and planted the trees. In addition, three residents stepped up to water the new plantings over the next several months. This project was funded by SPRA for the benefit of the South Patrick Shores community.
Conserving Hightower Beach Park – Our Oceanfront Legacy
Grant Award Agreements between FDEP, the City of Satellite Beach, and Brevard County for the Hightower Beach Park 18.5 acre site, set “restricted use” precedents. Obligations and responsibilities for activities and improvements on the oceanfront Park must be in accordance with use “restricted to public open space, limited recreation, and conservation use in perpetuity”. The following document was sent to the County Commissioners, County Manager, County Attorney, other relevant County staff, Florida Legislators, FDEP, FWC, and SJRWMD.It is critical to hold all parties, Brevard County, the City of Satellite Beach, and FDEP, accountable for their ongoing contractual obligations, and to ensure that the highest and best public interest is achieved with regard to Hightower Beach Park.
You are partners, who have obligated yourselves to purposeful, conservation efforts at Hightower, as well as to specified uses. These intended uses set the precedent for conservation and passive, public recreational uses enumerated in the two (2) page attachment citing these various contractual agreements by and between the three parties. They are the guiding documents that all signatories are obligated to follow in order to expedite the intended uses and to best serve the public interest and trust.
It is also important to view and understand that the totality of the oceanside beach park we know as Hightower Beach Park is crafted from several parcels, all of which adjoin each other with the expressed purpose of creating a unique, oceanfront park. This was intended to create a gestalt, where the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parcels. Thus, if development impinges on any portion of the Park, it impacts these contiguous properties as well.
Clearly, intended uses do not include an aerial walkway over SR A1A, with an estimated 440 square foot foundation on the east side of SR A1A and east of the sidewalk at Hightower. This would negatively impact Hightower Beach Park, in order to meet the developer’s demands and desires, as well as benefit the developer, not Hightower Beach Park conservation efforts, nor the public. It has been suggested that such a structure would provide safety for the general public, but instead, it would provide a walkway specifically designed for hotel customers. SR A1A already has a reduced speed limit at 35 MPH, as well as superior crosswalks in place for safety. Constructing this looming, aerial structure and foundation footprint would work in direct opposition to the intent of the existing contractural agreements and the public trust.
In addition to the legitimate concerns expressed above, impacts from lighting on nesting turtles (FWC oversight) and amplified, stormwater impacts (SJRWMD oversight) can negatively impact the park area, if this concrete behemoth is constructed on the east side of SR A1A.
The Park is for the use of all Florida residents and tourists alike, where no discrimination should be made with regard to use, access, or fees, irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries.
Now, our residents look forward, with promise, for all parties to assume their appropriate responsibilities to follow, enforce, and preserve the expressed intent of these agreements and the pledges made, in order not to diminish the value of Hightower Beach Park and to provide a natural legacy for the future.
Ayn Marie Samuelson MS, MPA, president SPRA
A 501 (c)(4) Supporting Community & Accountability