“It Failed”: Poor Compliance Dooms Program That Allowed Boat, RV Parking in Coral Springs

April 20, 2025 • By Kevin Deutsch

134Shares

The pilot program launched by Coral Springs, which allowed residents to park boats and recreational vehicles on city streets, has been deemed a failure, according to the city’s vice mayor.

The program, initiated by the commission in February 2022, aimed to give owners of recreational vehicles like boats, truck campers, trailers, motor coaches, and motorhomes more flexibility to park within city limits. City code enforcement staffers were told to closely monitor compliance and report back on their findings.

What they found, according to city officials, was poor compliance with city parking laws –and plenty of objections.

“We did an extensive pilot program and it failed,” Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen said at Wednesday’s city commission meeting, responding to a frustrated boat owner. “People do not follow the rules and this is not something that I think is the will of the commission."

“When we did do the pilot program it was not successful; individuals did not follow directions,” the vice mayor added. “And that is not something we heard from the community … they wanted to see continue.”

Metayer Bowen said that if any future legislation allowing similar street parking for such vehicles comes before the commission, “that is something I will personally push back on.”

“I don’t think it will match the aesthetics of our city."

Metayer Bowen in 2022 originally moved to approve the program, which commissioners unanimously approved.

City officials at the time expressed cautious optimism about the experiment. Commissioner Shawn Cerra, for example, supported the program and urged city staff to ensure residents and businesses did not abuse parking rules.

“This is about an opportunity for those who have recreational vehicles to do the right thing to be respectful, but if they don’t, then the city is going to have to hold them accountable,” Cerra said in 2022.

It’s unclear whether the commission will take up any proposals for similar parking programs in the future.

Coral Springs's #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don’t Miss Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Margate Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.

Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning journalist and author of two nonfiction books. He covers general assignment news and Jewish community issues for Talk Media. He has also worked as a staff writer at The Miami Times, the Rio Grande SUN, the New York Daily News, Newsday, The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post, The Riverdale Press, and Bronx Justice News.