For Doreen Buchanan, Sand Key Park is more than a vacation spot. Its a family tradition.

She drives two hours from Polk County several times to vacation in Pinellas County, where she has thousands of dollars, and the gulf-front county park is the main draw.

Whenever family comes to town, this is where we bring them, Buchanan said Friday on a cloudy but pleasant day at the beach.

The beach is calm, quiet, and safe, she said, thanks in large part to lifeguards stationed along the shore during the summer months.

I dont think I would come if they werent here, she said. And this is the only beach that I come to in Central Florida.

However, lifeguards at Sand Key Park could be on the chopping block. At an August 14 commission workshop, Pinellas County leaders discussed removing them to save

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