This Florida town considers eliminating free beach parking

The City of Cape Canaveral—the last remaining town on the Space Coast to offer free city beach parking—is considering a proposal to implement parking fees before beachgoers hit the sand. Under the new proposal, the city is looking to charge visitors roughly $2.50 an hour to park near the beach. While Cape Canaveral leaders have shot down similar proposals in the past due to a reluctance to install bulky parking meters or pay stations, city officials say advanced mobile technology put the option back on the table. If approved, drivers would likely pay for parking directly through a smartphone app. The financial impact could be significant for the city. Officials estimate the hourly fees would generate roughly $281,000 annually. Additionally, the city is weighing a $50 fine for parking violations, which could bring in an extra $83,000. In total, the project could generate upward of $350,000 a year in new revenue taking into account operating costs.