Islamorada Announces Founders Park Policies, Fees Effective March 1; Pool Closure Reminder

The Village of Islamorada has posted plans for updated park rules and a temporary shutdown of the Founders Park Pool as the community prepares for facility work and a new fee regime. A News Flash titled “New Founders Park Policies and Fees - Effective March 1, 2026” appeared on the village site January 28, and an earlier notice reminded residents that pool work would begin in February.

“This is a friendly reminder that the Founders Park Pool will officially close on February 1, 2026, for resurfacing and major facility improvements,” the municipal notice states. The closure began as scheduled, and the village has indicated the project will extend beyond simple resurfacing by adding other upgrades; the notice includes the phrase “The improvement project will also include:” without listing the subsequent items in the public posting.

Locker-room users faced an immediate deadline before the closure. Under the headline “Important Locker Notice:,” the village posted clear instructions: “Members who currently utilize the locker rooms must remove all personal items from lockers no later than Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Any items remaining after this date may be removed and disposed of as part of the renovation process.” Members who left belongings past that date risked disposal as crews prepared the spaces for renovation.

Membership handling during the shutdown is straightforward but leaves timing questions unanswered. “Membership Information: Existing annual memberships will be frozen and may resume once the Founders Park Pool reopens,” the notice says. The village set March 1, 2026, as the effective date for new policies and fees, but it has not announced a reopening date for the pool or published the detailed fee schedule in the public notice.

Practical next steps for residents and visitors are administrative. The Park Office is listed as the primary point of contact: “If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Park Office at (305) 853-1685. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support as we work to enhance the Founders Park Pool experience for our community.” The Village of Islamorada municipal offices are located at 86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036, with a main line at 305-664-6400.

For Monroe County residents the changes mean a temporary loss of a neighborhood swim facility, interrupted locker access and a pending change to how the park charges and manages access. The notices signal investment in public recreation that could affect budgets and programming downtown and across the Upper Keys. Watch for follow-up postings from the Village of Islamorada and contact the Park Office at (305) 853-1685 for specifics on membership extensions, the full March 1 fee schedule, and the projected pool reopening date.