'Hero' parking spots pop up across Brevard

The coveted front-space parking spot. It’s the Holy Grail for some, a game for others and a pain in the you-know-what for those who just retreat to the empty spots in the back.

But would we give up prime parking to a firefighter, police officer or veteran? It’s something Sheriff Wayne Ivey and the City of Cocoa are hoping residents in Brevard won’t mind.

If you’ve visited Cocoa City Hall lately, you may have noticed a new set of reserved parking spots marked off as “super hero” spots. Cocoa is the first area in the county to give preferential treatment to those who have served. But this week, all Brevard County Sheriff's Office precincts will get hero parking spots as well — and Sheriff Wayne Ivey said he hopes it’s a movement that will catch on.

In Cocoa, the signs went up in November after Councilman Tyler Furbish stumbled upon the idea online. A veteran himself, it resonated. He proposed it to the City Manager John Titkanich, who is also a veteran, and within a few days, three signs became a reality at City Hall. Two more signs will be added to a public parking lot between Oleander and Stone streets in Cocoa Village.

“We always need to honor our first responders and our veterans for what they have done and what they continue to do on a daily basis,” said Furbish. “ … I thought that’s just a great thing and we should do it.”

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Furbish said the city can’t really enforce the parking and it will work on an honor system. So far so good, he said, noting the spots are being used and there haven't been any complaints.

“I would like to see it spread across the county,” he added.

And it will, with the addition of signs at local sheriff precincts, said Ivey. The idea came to Ivey from Brevard County firefighter Eric Rath who pitched the concept of reserved parking for wounded veterans. Rath, who lives in Titusville, discovered the idea online and found that it was a program supported by Wounded Warriors Family Support. The group provides parking spot signs for wounded veterans free of charge.

Jumping on Cocoa’s bandwagon, Ivey said his office supported the idea wholeheartedly. However, Sheriff hero spots will be just for military personnel and veterans, since deputies already have ample parking at the precincts, he said.

“These are the people who put their lives on the line every day for us and it’s the least we can do for them,” said Ivey. “Most of them are so humble in their actions they might not use the space anyway because they are proud of the duty they did for their country.”

Ivey said roughly 10 signs will be added to precinct parking lots.

“I love the fact a citizen had brought the idea to me, and we wanted to put it into motion to recognize our heroes,” he said. “I think it’s a great thing for us to let our military and public safety heroes know how much they do for us and that’s a small token of way we can do that.”

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Joel Lucas, a Port St. John resident, noticed the signs during a recent visit to Cocoa City Hall. He snapped a photo of it and posted it to his Facebook. More than 500 shares later, there was quite a discussion happening on his thread. Most praised the idea, but some were reserved about whether or not military members should be so visible for fear of targeting.

Lucas, however, was impressed.

“I think it is a great way to honor those who have and do serve us. I was a little surprised to see them,”  he said.

And as for the idea of targeting, “I would certainly target those who use it," he said. "Target them for an extra head nod of gratitude.".

Furbish added that he doesn’t think targeting will be a problem in Brevard.

“I think we have a lot of respect for veterans and I don’t think anybody’s going to mess with anybody’s vehicle just for that,” said Furbish.

But Ivey hopes the idea doesn’t begin and end with Cocoa and the Sheriff’s office. He hopes other local businesses and municipalities join in the movement to honor local heroes.

“Hopefully other people throughout the county will pick up on it, and throughout the country,” he said.

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Contact Saggio at 321-242-3664, JSaggio@FloridaToday.com or follow @JessicaJSaggio on Twitter. Instagram: JessicaJSaggio Snapchat: JuhJuhJuh