FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ TOPICS - 1

BIKES IN PARKS

Question

Can I ride my bike off road in Brevard County Parks?

Answer

Because of the sensitive ecosystems, street bikes and mountain bikes are restricted to roadways and bike paths in parks managed by Brevard County Parks and Recreation.

With regard to parks managed by cities or privately owned properties, you should seek permission from the property owner or manager.

Although the bike trails are not identified as "off road", you might be interested to know that bike trails are identified in the St. Johns River Water Management District book "Recreation Guide to District Lands" for some of the conservation areas and buffer preserves. On the Publications page, select "Recreation Guide to District Lands" at the following web site: http://sjr.state.fl.us/programs/ outreach/pubs/index.html

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BIKE TRAILS

Question

Does the recreation department have maps of bike trails or designated bike routes throughout the County?

Answer

No, the Parks and Recreation Department does not publish a map of bike trails. However, if you are looking for wilderness bike trails, a publication called Recreation Guide to District Lands is available at the St. Johns River Water Management District website. You can view and print pages online from a PDF Acrobat Reader version, or request a hard copy. The publication identifies conservation areas (several in Brevard County) that include thousands of acres and have marked bike trails: http://sjr.state.fl.us/programs/ outreach/pubs/recguide/recguide.html (view either the Central or Southern Regions).

There is also a bike trail in the Archie Carr Nation Wildlife Refuge that connects Long Point Park with Sebastian Inlet. Other dirt road bike trails include Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary in Merritt Island, and Black Point Drive in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

The Brevard County Bicycle Pedestrian Program is coordinated by the Office of Transportation Planning. It is supported by citizen advisory committees, and many of those citizens are associated with bicycle shops in Brevard County -- employees at these shops are an excellent source of information regarding bike trails.

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BEACH CLEANUP & ADOPT-A-SHORE

Question

How can my organization get involved in a beach cleanup day or find out more about the Adopt-A-Shore program?

Answer

For information on beach cleanup days and the Adopt-A-Shore program go to the Keep Brevard Beautiful web site, or call 321-453-8767 or email.

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CANOE AND KAYAK RENTALS

Question

Can I rent a canoe or kayak at a Brevard County park?

Answer

We don't offer canoe or kayak rentals at our parks, but there are several rental businesses in Brevard County. Here are a few:

Extreme Sports - 294 E. Eau Gallie Blvd, Indian Harbour Beach, 321-779-4228

Ocean Sports World - 3220 S. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, 321-783-4088

Village Outfitters - 113 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa, 321-633-7245

Honest John's Fish Camp - 750 Mullet Creek Rd., Melbourne, 321-727-2923

Note: There is also a paddling club in Brevard County. Click Here for details.

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CAN'T FIND A PARK OR LITTLE LEAGUE ASSOCIATION?

Question

A) Why is the park I am looking for not listed in the Brevard County Parks and Recreation directory?

B) Why is my child's Little League Association not listed in the Brevard County Parks and Recreation directory?

Answer

A) The park you are looking for may be one of many parks managed by the municipality (city) in which it is located. There are some city parks that Brevard County Parks and Recreation does manage through contractual agreements with those cities. If you do not find the park you are looking for listed at our web site, you can use our "Other Parks Related Agencies" page for the city contact information, or view in Acrobat Reader a list of PARKS IN BREVARD COUNTY NOT OPERATED BY BREVARD COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION: Alphabetical by Parkor Alphabetical by Location then Park. If you still cannot find it, call 63-PKREC and we may be able to assist you.

B) The leagues listed at this website are the ones on user agreement or facility use permit to use Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department fields or School Board fields that are managed by this Department through a co-use agreement. In other words, the leagues listed on out website administer sports programs associated with this Department. Those athletic leagues that use properties associated with cities that have their own Recreation Department are not listed. However, you can use our "Other Parks Related Agencies" page for city contact information.

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DEPARTMENT FUNDING

Question

From what sources is the Parks and Recreation Department funded?

Answer

The Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department receives funding through a myriad of sources including:

General Fund county taxes
Special Board of County Commission appropriations for designated purposes.
Voter approved taxes such as:
- Beach & Riverfront Acquisition Program
- Environmentally Endangered Lands Program
- MSTU’s (Municipal Service Taxing Units, such as the one in Port St. John that is funding the development of facilities at Port St. John Community Center, Space Coast Community Sports Complex, and Fay Lake Wilderness Park)
- Special recreation taxes such as the Recreation Tax District in Cocoa/Rockledge
- Referendums, such as the three referendums approved in the November 2000 election for North Brevard, Merritt Island, and South Brevard
- Funding from various municipalities for services performed in those cities
- Funding from cities for joint projects
- Florida Department of State funds through grants and legislative appropriations
- Federal funds through the Community Development Block Grant
- Grants from other agencies
- Revenues from services and facilities, such as the Campgrounds, Golf Courses, facility rentals, class and event fees
- Occasional donations

Besides monetary funding, the Department receives valuable services and cost saving measures such as joint-use of facilities with the Brevard County School Board, Brevard Community College, and volunteer services from organizations and individuals.

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DOGS IN THE PARKS

Question

Our dog is part of our family and wants to come along on outings, which parks can we take him to?

Answer

Parks with designated areas for dogs are listed on our "Dogs In Parks" web page. Please go to that page for details: www.brevardparks.com/dogs

EMPLOYMENT

Question

What kind of jobs are available in the Parks and Recreation Department?

Answer

The Parks and Recreation Department has many permanent, part-time permanent and seasonal job descriptions on file at the Human Resource Department--the Job Line phone number is listed at the bottom of the current job listings web page: Human Resource External Jobs
JOBLINE 633-2032
This number operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides information on current job openings. Listings are updated each week.

For contractual, seasonal, and volunteer positions you can inquire at Area Parks Operations Offices listed here and on our Contact
North Area 321-264-5105 northarea@brevardparks.com
Central Area-Mainland 321-633-1874 centralarea@brevardparks.com
Central Area-MI/Beaches 321-455-1380 mibeaches@brevardparks.com
>South Area 321-255-4400 southarea@brevardparks.com
[Note: For Ocean Lifeguard information contact the Public Safety Department-Ocean Lifeguard Program, Wyatt Werneth at 321-633-2056 or 321-868-1145.

For information about golf course personnel and volunteer opportunities at the Golf Courses, contact:
THE HABITAT at Valkaria Golf Course Pro Shop: 321-952-6312
THE SAVANNAHS> Golf Course in Merritt Island Pro Shop: 321-455-1375
SPESSARD HOLLAND Golf Course in Melbourne Beach Pro Shop: 321-952-4529
www.spacecoastgolf.com

Environmentally Endangered Lands Program Volunteer Opportunities are also availabale. More information about that program is available at: www.eelbrevard.com

Question

Do you have information about your department and about Brevard County available for Parks and Recreation professionals considering relocating to Florida?

Answer

For the Parks & Recreation Career Minded -- a brochure including photos and details about the Parks & Recreation Department and Brevard County demographics and services can be downloaded (5MB PDF viewable in Acrobat Reader).

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Question

Does Brevard County have specific rules and/or recommendations regarding litter, pet waste, and the various materials that contaminate our parks and waterways?

Answer

Yes we do. Go to our Protecting Our Parks page for details.

The Brevard County Natural Resource Management Office is another resource for information. Phone: 321-633-2016

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FEEDING SCRUB JAYS

Question

I've noticed people feeding scrub jays peanuts and scraps of food. Is it OK to do that?

Answer

The United State Federal Wildlife Service specifically requested the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office to inform residents and visitors that hand-feeding Scrub Jays is in direct violation of the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act defines the hand-ffeeding of Scrub Jays as harassment, because it teaches the jays to look to humans for direct hand outs which is detrimental to their long term survival. Hanging bird feeders that all birds use are not covered by this policy because it is not 'directly' or 'actively' feeding of the jays.
Brevard County Natural Resource Management Office Phone: 321-633-2016

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FIRES ON BEACHES

Question

Is it permissable to have a bonfire on a beach in Brevard County?

Answer

Brevard County Ordinance Sec. 78-114 states:
No person in any park or recreational area shall ignite, set or maintain any fire for cooking or any other purpose unless such fire is within a designated area for such purpose.

With two exceptions, beaches in Brevard County are not designated areas and fires are not allowed.

The exception includes beaches within the city limits of Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach.

The City of Cocoa Beach will issue a permit for bonfires per City Ordinance 9-10 per the following conditions:

Permit issued to persons over 18 years of age or older
Photo ID required
$25 permit fee
Permit issued for only for campfires between the north side of Minutemen Cswy and northern boundary of the city
Permit issued on day of request dependent on wind conditions existing or anticipated (if permit is revoked on site due to wind conditions, permit fee will be refunded by mail)
No refunds issued due to rain
Fires can be no less than 100 ft from a stub-end street of dune crossover and at least 30 ft from any dune crossover or vegetation
Fire cannot exceed 3 ft in diameter or 3 ft in height and must be surrounded by beach sand only
Fire may not be left unattended and the permit and owner must be present at all times
Fires must be out by 12 midnight
All fire debris must be extinguished and removed (not buried) with site restored to natural condition
No burn permits issued from May 1 and October 31

City of Cocoa Beach information: 321-868-3274
City of Cocoa Beach Recreation

The City of Satellite Beach will issue a permit for bonfires per Recreation Rule conditions. Contact the City of Satellite Beach Fire Department for more information: 321-773-4405

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