Monroe County Advances Higgs Beach Transfer, Marathon Air Service Funding

Monroe County commissioners gave staff the green light to negotiate terms for transferring Higgs Beach to the City of Key West at their March 11 session in Key Largo, packaging nearly $2.7 million in insurance proceeds, capital funds, and annual operating support to sweeten the deal for the city.

County Administrator Christine Hurley outlined a draft interlocal agreement that would move $987,000 in Hurricane Ian insurance proceeds to Key West to repair or replace storm-damaged structures at the 16.3-acre Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park. An additional $500,000 in county capital funding would follow, with $400,000 earmarked for a seawall patch and $100,000 for design of the Reynolds Street Pier repair. Those funds would be disbursed within 14 days of an executed interlocal agreement approved by both the Key West City Commission and the Monroe County Commission.

Commissioner Craig Cates backed the plan without hesitation. "I think it's great if they were in control of that," he said of Key West assuming ownership. "I think we are offering them a great deal."

The financial package extends well beyond the initial transfer. Within 60 days of conveyance, the county would amend Monroe County Tourist Development Council grants to move $834,448 to Key West, covering a beach pavilion, a Fort West Martello HVAC system, and Reynolds Street Pier construction. The county would also work with the Florida Department of Transportation to transfer a $568,436 FDOT grant to the city. On top of those one-time transfers, the county offered $305,815 in annual TDC operating funds to cover two beach employees' salaries, utilities, pest control, and general maintenance costs.

Higgs Beach, described by Keysweekly as the final county-owned beach within an incorporated Keys city, includes the beach and pier area, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, a dog park, pavilions, a restaurant, parking, and the historic West Martello Tower, home of the Key West Garden Club. Key West would also inherit the park's existing tenants, Salute Watersports LLC and the Key West Garden Club, under the terms of any conveyance.

The county further proposed either constructing a 100-by-300-foot recreation field on the property itself or transferring the estimated construction cost to Key West, with the city controlling placement and design.

Key West City Manager Brian L. Barroso signaled the city's interest in moving forward. "We are exploring opportunities to collaborate with Monroe County on the potential acquisition of Higgs Beach to ensure its long-term preservation and public benefit," Barroso said. "Working together, we aim to align on shared goals related to environmental stewardship, community access, and responsible management."

Hurley echoed that approach. "Our goal is to work closely with the city to preserve and improve this iconic local asset while respecting the grant obligations and historic character of the property."

City and county staffs have spent the past year reviewing legal, financial, and operational components of a potential conveyance. Ongoing FEMA-funded projects at the site, including seawall repairs, Reynolds Street Pier upgrades, pavilion restoration, and West Martello Tower improvements, will continue during the transition, with staff evaluating how a handoff would affect existing grant obligations.

A Key West official identified as Henriquez said the city aimed to have a proposal ready for the Key West City Commission by April 1. "The city staff and the county staff should have something to present to us, so they'll be working very diligently together and coming up with a plan," Henriquez said.

The March 11 session also produced board approval of county commitments to help restore commercial air service at the Marathon Airport, though the specific dollar figures and terms of those commitments were not detailed publicly at the meeting.