OKEECHOBEE – Outdoor enthusiasts who want to spend several days hiking may soon be able to leave their vehicles overnight on county property.

At the April 11 Okeechobee County Commission meeting, Community Services Director Denise Whitehead said hikers using the Florida Scenic Trail and kayakers who want to camp on public land along the Kissimmee River have asked to leave their vehicles overnight at the C. Scott Driver boat ramp area.

 She suggested overnight parking could be allowed in designated areas with special permits from the Parks and Recreation. Parking permits, which would require a fee, would be good for no more than seven consecutive days.

She said commercial vehicles, campers and RVs would not be allowed in overnight parking.

“We want to make sure this is not overnight sleeping,” she said. “We want to make sure these areas we are designated are just for parking.”

The overnight parking area at the C. Scott Driver boat ramps would not take away any spaces now available for vehicles with boat trailers.

“We want to have an area designated by signs,” she said. Any vehicles parked there without the special permit could be towed.

“The requests I am getting is three to five days,” Whitehead said.

“I don’t want any commercial vehicles there. I don’t want any semis there,” she said. RVs and campers would not be allowed in overnight parking areas.

Sheriff Noel Stephen said his office supports the idea, with an ordinance that gives Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office the authority to have vehicles towed if they violate the rules.