Flagler Monument Island Closed to Boaters Over Memorial Day Weekend

Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach will close its popular Flagler Monument Island to boaters over the long Memorial Day weekend due to a history of some boaters leaving significant litter behind. The uninhabited island will close starting on Friday, May 24 at 6 a.m. and will reopen at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

“This is a case of boaters failing to behave responsibly around one of our natural treasures,” explained Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones in announcing the closure. “The city will have an enforcement presence on the island during the holiday weekend to ensure that boaters respect the 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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