Why Audrey Moran Is the Right Choice for Both Liberals and Conservatives

[Taylor Strasser]

I'm not clear on what Kitester wants to do on the beach, but I'm pretty sure it can be done.

As I'm seeing it, this thread is missing the actual eco-issue in this race: Mike Hogan's proposal to sell off parts of the Preservation Project to balance the budget. (Of course this balance will be much harder for him, since he's sitting in the unions' back pockets.)

Here's a map http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+Services/Waterfront+Management+and+Programming/Preservation+Project/Preservation+-+Map.htm

Any of these parcels being sold off to developers would be a black eye upon us all. Moran helped Delaney create this project. This project represents Delaney's legacy and our legacy. Moran will protect this.

I fish. I want to continue to fish in the creeks near the mouth of the river for the rest of my life.

[BridgeTroll]

So if we couldn't drive on the beach, destroying its ecosystem, or add parking on dunes, also destroying it, then we couldn't enjoy the beach?  Your reasoning makes no sense.  During the warmer months I'm frequently at the beach, Micklers in particular since I can bring my dog, and our beaches stretch so far up and down Jacksonville that the idea that protecting them for future generations would injure access is laughable. 

Are you familiar with Huguenot park specifically?  Or just "the beach in general".  For example... I am NOT in favor of driving on Jax or Neptune or pontevedra beaches.  Access is easy... parking is ample.  This is simply NOT the case at Huguenot park and that is why... in my opinion... this is a bit different than "I dont think we should drive on the beach".

[kitester]

Huguenot Park is a very unusual place. Its man made and man enhanced.. Just like anywhere natural forces work on it. Wind and water cause both erosion and accretion. Sun and rain provide for natural plant growth and plant seeds are carried on the wind and water to the area where they grow and begin to stabilize the sand.

The park only exists because the jetty stops the southward flow of sand. The sand was compacted by the army corp years ago to control the flow of water through the jetty and stabilize the mouth of the St Johns river. As the sand built up it changed the course of the Ft. George River pushing it to the north. The more the sand built up the more the bar pushed north and filled in what some people now call the "pond". During the 70s the Boy Scouts collected discarded Christmas trees and truck loads of them were placed on the very low dune line and sandbars  to speed the build up of sand.

As the area became more stable it was covered with water less frequently. People began to go there to fish and camp. At that time only very good 4X4 trucks could make it out there. Where there had been just ocean this wisp of sand grew up to become what we call Huguenot Park . Most people know that in those days there was no "park". People used to hold sand drag races out there and dune  buggies and trucks could drive wherever possible. I was told that they even had horse races out there at one time. Up to several years ago the JSO was able to take their horses out there and patrol. As the area became more popular there was a need to police it to keep it safe. The state did not want the hassle and the federal govt. was only interested in maintaining the jetty and saw no reason to become involved. So the city of Jacksonville stepped up and offered to lease the newly formed land  and operate it as a public park. Everyone was happy. And still the park grew in size. Back then you could still drive on the beach at Jacksonville beach. I don't know which happened first. If Huguenot Park was formed before beach driving was banned at jacksonville beach or the other way round. Driving on the beach was how most people who lived off the water, i.e. 99% of us, got to and accessed the ocean.

It is interesting to note that quite a few people have told me that when driving was permitted in the dunes they were much taller. They say that since driving was restricted to the beach there the dunes have been decreasing in size. I have to say that it doesn't sound right that driving on the dunes would make them bigger but perhaps packing the sand helps to prevent erosion.     

The fact is that no human activity at the park really does any environmental damage. The park was created by people just as surly as if we dumped big rocks out in the ocean and built an artificial reef/island off shore. I know that saying that is not politically correct and offends people who feel that driving on the beach is some sort of immoral activity. If you don't like going to the beach or are happy to pay to park blocks away and walk through traffic on hot pavement please stay home or go to Jax Beach.

Driving on the beach is what keeps Huguenot Park open for the rest of us. The bird lobby does not care if you can ever play in the water again. They want driving off the beach. We have suggested a very reasonable solution and they are unwilling to consider it. And for the people who think its a bad idea to put parking lots in dune areas please consider most other beach front parks including state parks. Parking and board walks are the norm and dunes are flattened to make it possible. Should we close them down, tear up the parking lots and boardwalks? I don't think so.

The city has proven that coexistence between our park patrons and wildlife at the park is possible and works well.

The bird lobby is still set on reducing your access until the last few remaining voices can be swept aside. That is why I want a candidate who will openly stand up for our access and say enough is enough and preserve the park as a park for people. I want someone who not allow a narrow minded few to steal the park under the guise of environmental preservation.