Flagler Monument Island Closed to Boaters Over July 4th Weekend

Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach will once again close its popular Flagler Monument Island to boaters over the long July 4 weekend in response to a history of littering by irresponsible visitors. The uninhabited island will close starting on Thursday, July 4 at 6 a.m. and will reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 8.

“This is an uninhabited island that some boaters have historically used as a dumping ground,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones, who announced the closure following a similar closure over Memorial Day Weekend. “The city will set up an enforcement presence on the island throughout the holiday weekend as we have done in the recent past to ensure that boaters respect the temporary closure.”

Built by Miami Beach founding father Carl Fisher more than 100 years ago, the island features a 96-foot obelisk to honor 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 when the island was closed to the public for an extended period, it became home to the first documented nest of North American ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection at the time. The island is only accessible by boat.

The obelisk has been a familiar landmark for decades with its allegorical sculptures at the base. Unfortunately, boating enthusiasts have frequently left behind substantial piles of trash, including numerous empty beer cans and bottles.

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