Despite widespread damage in the 2024 hurricane season, Anna Maria Island was prepared for spring break visitors to hit the beaches.
Manatee County schools are on break this week, while K-12 districts and colleges elsewhere alternate weeklong breaks into April.
Spring breakers arriving to AMI will find the white sand beaches for which the island is known.
Storm surge and high winds from hurricanes Helene and Milton battered AMI last fall, leaving behind beach erosion, infrastructure challenges and structural damages.
However, officials say recovery efforts brought AMI’s beaches and public spaces back into shape in time for the seasonal tourism surge.
Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he expects a strong spring season, which got underway March 14, an early release day for Manatee County public schools, adding a weekend to the official break that started March 17.
“The majority of the short-term rentals are open and most of the beachfront, bayfront restaurants are reopened,” Falcione said, adding it took “lots of hard work from the business owners and from the municipalities that issued the permits and inspections.”
He credited the county natural resources and public works departments for prioritizing public safety and beach restoration.
“They did hire a company to sweep the entire shoreline in the water to make sure there was no debris left out there from the hurricanes,” Falcione said March 5.
“They also just reopened the final area of Coquina Beach parking lot,” he added. “And added some extra temporary public restrooms.”
County work crews moved in portable restrooms at Coquina while rebuilding two storm-damaged restrooms and repairing a third.
Falcione encouraged spring visitors to use the Gulf Islands Ferry, a county service that employs two 50-foot open catamarans, each carrying up to 48 passengers. The service operates between the Bradenton Riverwalk and the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
“It’s telling the visitors on the island that you can go from Bradenton to north Anna Maria Island to south Anna Maria Island without getting in your car,” Falcione said.
The ferry does not stop in Anna Maria but the county wants to add a stop there with the construction of a new pier. The county also is working on a south Coquina docking site, as well as a landing in Holmes Beach.
Law enforcement, beach cleanup
County and city officials say repairs and cleanup efforts were a priority in preparation for spring crowds.
Bill Logan, county public information officer, said all county beaches are open, with crews maintaining cleanliness.
Meanwhile, local law enforcement increased patrols to manage crowds and ensure public safety.
“We’ve got extra patrols in place and we’re asking people to be responsible,” said Bill Tokajer, Holmes Beach’s police chief. “That means following the rules, being mindful of traffic and keeping the beaches clean.”
Bradenton Beach Chief John Cosby said officers were prepared despite the storm challenges.
“It’s usually (busiest) that week before and after Easter,” Cosby said of the spring season. Easter is April 20.
“Our comeback was phenomenal,” he added. “We had people in Airbnbs three weeks after the storms.”
Falcione emphasized the island’s resiliency and readiness.
“We are beyond the adversity. We are beyond recovery from the hurricanes,” he said. “We’re showcasing to our residents and our target market that, hey, we’re open for business, we’re back to normal and let’s go ahead and do all we can to support the local economy.”