SAVE BELLEAIR CAUSEWAY
This website has been created to provide information on the on-going effort to preserve windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and fishing access to Belleair Causeway. Under the current proposal, a person must walk 1250 feet (the length of four football fields) carrying equipment, coolers, chairs, board, mast and sails to access the center of the south beach.
Historically Belleair Causeway has been a haven for windsurfing, fishing, kayaking and sunbathing activities. It is unique because of minimal boat traffic and barrier islands that are easily accessible by small, human or wind-powered craft that can be hand launched from the beach. I discovered the site in 1979, fell in love with it and started windsurfing there regularly. In 1984 I moved to Indian Rocks Beach, just two miles from Belleair Causeway. Since then, I have built my business, Watersports West, around the ability of my customers to have easy water access to use the types of watersport equipment we sell. Other than Belleair Causeway, the closest free intercoastal public launch areas are Dunedin Causeway thirteen miles to the north or Tierra Verde seventeen miles to the south.
Click on the drawing to view/download full size drawing
In following the process of this bridge plan and having public input, members of the Tampa Bay Windsurfers Fleet 12 attended several public meetings. They never saw a plan that severely limited access to their favorite windsurfing site. Subsequently, the BelleairCausewayBridge.com web site has made no mention of limiting access to the north side only or denying cars access to the south side of the causeway. I don't know why this information has not been made public.
What I do know is that almost a half a mile of waterfront we were able to access for over a half century will now be relegated to a 300’ x 18’ parking area on the north side. To make matters worse, it is only accessible when heading west. I believe this plan is a huge blunder. I also believe that thousands of people who have enjoyed this location in the past will concur.
The Marine Industry contributes 18 billion dollars a year to our State economy. Yet we are curtailing the very industry whose tax dollars are helping to pay the tab for projects like Belleair Causeway. It's time to reconsider this existing plan and protect this precious natural resource. It should be preserved so it can be used as it has for decades….by the windsurfers, fishermen, kayakers, kids, the elderly, tourists and the handicapped.
For comments or suggestions and updates please see www.savebelleaircauseway.com or e-mail me at steve@watersportswest.com.
Call to Complain about Belleair Causeway.
We have established a 24-Hour Citizens Hotline for your convenience and use for the duration of this project. Please contact us at 727-453-3355.
Please call often!
Please also e-mail your federal elected officials and the Pinellas County Commissioners to voice your concerns.
County List
Watersports West
12900 Walsingham Road
Largo Fl. (Tampa Bay Area) 33774
(727) 517-7000
(888) 401-5080
Historically Belleair Causeway has been a haven for windsurfing, fishing, kayaking and sunbathing activities. It is unique because of minimal boat traffic and barrier islands that are easily accessible by small, human or wind-powered craft that can be hand launched from the beach. I discovered the site in 1979, fell in love with it and started windsurfing there regularly. In 1984 I moved to Indian Rocks Beach, just two miles from Belleair Causeway. Since then, I have built my business, Watersports West, around the ability of my customers to have easy water access to use the types of watersport equipment we sell. Other than Belleair Causeway, the closest free intercoastal public launch areas are Dunedin Causeway thirteen miles to the north or Tierra Verde seventeen miles to the south.
Click on the drawing to view/download full size drawing
In following the process of this bridge plan and having public input, members of the Tampa Bay Windsurfers Fleet 12 attended several public meetings. They never saw a plan that severely limited access to their favorite windsurfing site. Subsequently, the BelleairCausewayBridge.com web site has made no mention of limiting access to the north side only or denying cars access to the south side of the causeway. I don't know why this information has not been made public.
What I do know is that almost a half a mile of waterfront we were able to access for over a half century will now be relegated to a 300’ x 18’ parking area on the north side. To make matters worse, it is only accessible when heading west. I believe this plan is a huge blunder. I also believe that thousands of people who have enjoyed this location in the past will concur.
The Marine Industry contributes 18 billion dollars a year to our State economy. Yet we are curtailing the very industry whose tax dollars are helping to pay the tab for projects like Belleair Causeway. It's time to reconsider this existing plan and protect this precious natural resource. It should be preserved so it can be used as it has for decades….by the windsurfers, fishermen, kayakers, kids, the elderly, tourists and the handicapped.
For comments or suggestions and updates please see www.savebelleaircauseway.com or e-mail me at steve@watersportswest.com.
Call to Complain about Belleair Causeway.
We have established a 24-Hour Citizens Hotline for your convenience and use for the duration of this project. Please contact us at 727-453-3355.
Please call often!
Please also e-mail your federal elected officials and the Pinellas County Commissioners to voice your concerns.
County List
- Ronnie E. Duncan, Chairman rduncan@pinellascounty.org
- Calvin D. Harris, charris@pinellascounty.org
- Robert B. Stewart, Vice Chairman rstewart@pinellascounty.org
- Susan Latvala slatvala@pinellascounty.org
- Karen Williams Seel kseel@pinellascounty.org
- John Morroni jmorroni@pinellascounty.org
- Kenneth T. Welch ktwelch@pinellascounty.org
- Congressman Bill Young (10th district) Bill.Young@mail.house.gov
- Mel Martinez, US Senator http://martinez.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.ContactForm&CFID=28847102&CFTOKEN=98129436
- Bill Nelson, US Senator http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
- Charlie Crist Govenor Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to these entities. Instead, contact the offices by phone or in writing.
Watersports West
12900 Walsingham Road
Largo Fl. (Tampa Bay Area) 33774
(727) 517-7000
(888) 401-5080
