VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower said he remembers the days of being a lifeguard on North Atlantic Avenue which is now home to the new “Sun and Surf” Beach park in Daytona Beach.
“I worked at this beach. I sat towers here. I was captain of this station, so I remember when it was a smaller motel locally owned,” Brower said.
The park has 75 parking spots, a new beach access ramp, showers and bike racks.
Even though visitors have already been using the space for parking, leaders wanted to celebrate the completion Wednesday with a ribbon cutting.
“This is an amenity for the people of Volusia county that only came because they had the foresight to vote I think 72% for ECHO funding, they are actually taxing themselves to get amenities in the county,” Brower explained.
Wednesday’s ribbon cutting also comes just a day after Volusia County leaders voted to charge out-of-towners for off-beach parking beginning Jan. 1.
“We are getting questions about that. We did vote yesterday there will be charges to park in off beach parking areas like this but *not for the residents of Volusia County,” Brower said.
Other access ramps in Volusia County including the one on International Speedway Boulevard are closed for repairs following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022.
The iconic “World’s Famous Beach” sign in Daytona Beach is also going under refurbishment.
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