Rockaway Beach Access Upgrades

Changes come to another portion of the Rockaway Parking lot beach access area.

The pier to nowhere is gone. And for the most part, so are the aged wooden boards that made up the wall that futility tried to keep the sand back between the Rockaway Parking lot and Clearwater Beach. It is part of the new look for the parking lot that can see up to a half million cars use it a year. A four-foot tall sand wall is being installed along the west side of the Rockaway parking lot near where the old Mandalay Pier was. The structure, between Frenchy's Rockaway and the Palm Pavilion, came down for cost reasons and because of the $200,000 sand wall project. At one time the pier extended over the water, but through erosion and beach nourishment it ended about 150 feet before the water. Costs to repair the crumbling concrete far …

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Mandalay Pier Expected to Come Down

City leaders are expected to approve a $90,000 plan to destroy the old Mandalay Pier, which is between Frenchy's Rockaway and the Palm Pavilion at the City Council meeting Thursday.

The aged Mandalay Pier is coming down. City leaders are expected to approve the project to demolish the iconic sunset spot where water one time lapped at its posts. The end of the pier is now at least 150 feet from the tide. It must come down for cost reasons and because an expected four foot tall sand wall project is on the horizon, said Kevin Dunbar at the City Council work session meeting Monday. There was some concern that it is used by wheelchair bound beachgoers. However, Dunbar said the incline is not ADA compliant. It is open because it is grandfathered from current code. If the pier were restored it would have to meet the newer standards. To repair the old concrete structure, the weak pieces would have to be removed, as would the …

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Mandalay Pier Could Meet Wrecking Ball

The iconic sunset spot between Frenchy’s Rockaway and the Palm Pavilion will be destroyed if city leaders approve a $90,000 plan to demolish it.

What once was a fisherman dream has become an iconic sunset spot that soon will meet the wrecking ball. City leaders are set to vote on a measure to spend $90,000 to destroy Mandalay Pier, the structure between Frenchy’s Rockaway and Palm Pavilion, next week. “Pier 60 serves as the main attraction on Clearwater Beach rather than this small portion of concrete pier left over from earlier history in Clearwater,” said Art Kader, assistant director of the Parks and Recreation department. “It serves little or no real purpose since it is so far from the water and beach goers.” About 50 years ago the pier was built and over time the concrete has worn down and sand has covered up other areas of it. At one time it extended over the water, the line …

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Spring Break

New Bathrooms; Parking Meters Greet Clearwater Beach Spring Breakers

New solar parking meters and bathrooms are already in at the Rockaway parking lot. The project also includes other upgrades and should be complete April 15.

City officials could see a windfall of change from some new parking meters. Crews have installed 10 solar-powered meters at the Rockaway parking lot at a cost of $101,500. Similar meters are already in use at other lots on Clearwater Beach and downtown. These machines accept coins, cash and credit card payment. After buying time, users are supposed to put the receipt on the dash of their vehicle. Rates and times have not changed however officials still expect to see parking revenues increase with the new units. “That is one of the points with the pay station, is that citizens tend to pay for more time than they use,” said Tracy Bruch, city parking manager. “People are paying for the security or comfort. So you are turning that space over …

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