8 Pinellas beaches shine in national list

All eight that applied are recognized by a group that certifies safe and environmentally sound beaches.

[Times photo: Jim Damaske] Clearwater Beach, which was filled with beachgoers last month, made the Clean Beaches cut for the second year in a row.

By AMY WIMMER

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 19, 2001

Eight Pinellas beaches were named Friday to the Clean Beaches Council's nationwide list of safe and environmentally friendly beaches.

The group sponsors the only non-profit environmental and public safety beach certification program in the United States. The program is paid for through the application fees beaches pay to be considered for the designation.

Amy Bunch, a spokesman for the Clean Beaches Council of Washington, D.C., said none of the beaches that applied for the designation were turned down.

"We have intentionally made this program a transparent process so beaches that know they can't meet the criteria don't apply to the program," Bunch said. "The beaches know ahead of time what the criteria are that they're to be evaluated on, so beaches that know they can't meet the criteria don't apply for this certification."

"Having that designation of these caliber beaches certainly means a great deal," said Lee Daniel, assistant director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For the second year in a row, the beaches honored in Pinellas were:

Caladesi Island State Park;

Clearwater Beach;

Fort De Soto Park;

Fred Howard Park, Tarpon Springs;

Honeymoon Island State Park;

Sand Key Park;

St. Pete Beach;

Treasure Island.

Factors the Clean Beaches Council considers include access to the beach, public drinking water within walking distance of the beach, existence of a natural habitat for shoreline creatures, and whether lifeguards are on duty.

Throughout Florida, 29 beaches received the designation, more than any other state. Nationwide, the Clean Beaches Council honored 62 beaches in 12 states. The state with the second-highest number of beaches listed was Delaware, with six.

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