Visitors seeking to enjoy Memorial Day Weekend at sandbars and diving spots in the Upper Keys won’t be able to launch from certain ramps in the village of Islamorada.
For the past several years, Islamorada officials have shut access to smaller ramps located in residential neighborhoods during busy holidays like Memorial Day Weekend, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Public boat ramps, specifically ones located at East Ridge Road and Blackwood Drive, lack the adequate parking for outside visitors hauling their vessels. Safety issues over people launching their boats at all hours, as well as quality of life concerns for residents in those neighborhoods were also cited as reasons for shutting access to the ramps.
“The most important thing is safety,” Village Manager Rob Cole said.
Ramps will close today at 1 p.m. and reopen on Tuesday, May 28 at 9 a.m. The East Ridge Road ramp was already closed as of this morning.
The public boat ramp at Founders Park remains open to visitors and locals. Islamorada residents have free access to the ramp, so long as they provide identification. Non-village residents pay $40 to launch and unlaunch their boats. The ramp is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
