As boaters prepare for Memorial Day on the water, one island off the coast of Miami Beach will be off limits during the long weekend: Flagler Monument Island.
City officials have announced that the uninhabited island will close due to “a history of some boaters leaving significant litter behind.” With the high number of visitors, especially during peak months, the island has faced issues with piles of trash like empty beer cans and bottles.
When will Flagler Monument Island close for Memorial Day?
The closure will begin at 6 a.m. Friday, May 23, and last through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27.
This isn’t the first time Flagler Monument Island closes for an important holiday, as officials have previously taken action during July 4th weekend last year and Memorial Day 2023 for the same reasons.
About Flagler Monument Island
Only accessible by boat, the Biscayne Bay landmark was built over 100 years ago by Miami Beach founding father Carl Fisher. It features a 96-foot obelisk honoring Henry M. Flagler, a pioneer of modern Florida who founded the East Coast Florida Railway and built a hotel empire in the Sunshine State.
During the pandemic, while closed to the public, the island became home to the first documented nest of North American ospreys in the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.