Bernie Montás
•8/14/2026
Robin Wilkins, who lives near Boca Grande, said her family moved to their current home "specifically because we are close to Boca Grande beaches." That's why Wilkins was disappointed when Lee County commissioners implemented new parking rules for the community's beach access points last year. "There was a lot of hurt and a lot of anger from and from the entire community," she said. In the latest challenge to Boca Grande's parking regulations, Mark Hoogendoorn, a Charlotte County resident, is suing Lee County. In a lawsuit he filed in July, Hoogendoorn argues that Lee County's records classify Boca Grande's beach access points as park facilities based on the following claims: The county's mapping system lists the beach access points as parks. The county's mapping system includes facility pages for each numbered street. The county's 2019 parks and recreation mapbook details each access point similarly to how it details parks. A 2018 state funding application detailed many of the access points as having counted parking spaces. As a result, Hoogendoorn claims the beach access points are governed by Lee County's parks and recreation ordinance, which states in part that permits may not be issued if the proposed use of the park will prohibit the general public's use of it. Lee County officials say it wouldn't be accurate to classify the beach access points as parks, and the county's website does not explicitly categorize them as such. Boca Grande's parking regulations require people to have permits to park in residential areas along 14 beach access points in the community. Parking in non-residential areas doesn't require a permit, but it is limited to three hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with exceptions for certain permits. For visitors like Betsy Hicks, the legal debate is secondary to the parking challenges. "I just am sad that another city is harming the businesses and, you know, batting people away from coming because of all the parking situations and fees," she said. In October 2025, Charlotte County entered a conflict resolution process with Lee County in order to suspend the Boca Grande parking ordinance until a traffic study was completed. The counties met again in January to discuss the parking regulations. There are no mediation meetings between Charlotte and Lee counties scheduled. Lee County officials declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
