I'm also from Florida, and I agree with the parent poster. Spent a lot of time on the East Coast (Cocoa Beach, and Miami area mainly), and there is plenty of free parking. Even close to downtown Miami (Virginia Key, for example) has some free parking.

That being said, we have some beautiful state parks in Florida (great springs, rivers, camping etc) which charge entrance fees. Some parks have a once-a-year "free day", and it's great to see so many people out and enjoying the outdoors. Not at all like the "beach version of public housing", as one commentor rudely claimed above.

Plenty of free parking though I don't know about Miami. Only times I've been to Miami I've just been passing through on my way out of the country.