Huguenot Park - Your access today!

[kitester]

Huguenot park is once again completely open for beach driving. The sand on the point is plenty hard for the carefull beach driver. Most people who go out there will have either the knowlage and expierence to drive the beach or will be in a car or truck that can easily handle most of the areas out there but you can still get stuck in a few places.

As time goes by erosion is displacing more dune sand onto the point. During the last Northeaster another 2 feet was lost in some places on the Atlantic side. The small slough that was forming right next to the no driving signs was filled in  so there is more open sand between them and the larger, deeper one at low tide.  The last time i was in the deeper slough it was about four and a half feet deep and the current was strong so be carefull if you plan to swim or have small children out there. The area is always changing. Now is a great time to vist the park. If you like the beach you should go and enjoy it there.

[mbwright]

Don't most service dogs have a vest, or collar that indicates they are obviously a service animal?  I  would think this would be required, sort of like having a placard to park in the handicapped space.

[kitester]

I don't know if there is a requirement for service animals to wear or display identifying vests or collars. I have seen many service animals that only had regular collars on and some with vests or harnesses.

[kitester]

It's about that time again. The birds are amassing at the park, pairing up and doing the wild thing. As happens about this time every year there are bird protections and education for the public to be aware of at Huguenot. The birds arrived just a bit later this year so the "bird fence" should go up after Memorial Day, probably the week after. City trained bird stewards will be in place under the temporary shelter just inside the roped off area. As always it is still ok to walk up to the point. You can fish, look for shells, swim, surf or even ride your bike up there.  Just be sure you give the new chicks as much room as possible. It might be necessary to walk in knee deep water at high tide to get around them. The idea is not to make them run away. The less disturbance the better. Remember your access is at stake!  Also if you plan to drive up to the rope line remember that the tide might be coming in. It can get crowded near the line and you want to park as high up on the beach as possible. Don't leave your car for very long. The profile of the beach has changed and there is no beach at high tide this year. Low tide is between 11:30 and 1pm through the weekend with a plus 5ft. That means you might want to consider driving off the beach by around 3:30 or 4pm.  Check local tide notifications and at the front gate. I would guess that they will have to stop people from coming in sometime around 3 depending on the numbers. Enjoy your Memorial Day !

[kitester]

Just an update .....the bird fence is up and the back lane around the pond is closed. Too bad for anyone who wants to fish or launch a boat or jet ski. There is a deeper, faster channel across the point that remains full and flowing at low tide. Be aware of the tide direction if you plan to cross to the sandbars north of the park.

[kitester]

Well here is another kick in the teath. After all the Years of working with the city and the navy, after all the years of promoting safety and responisbility, after all the years of fighting for access to the last real place people can go to access the water and beaches of north Florida the most concerned pro community access advocates have been delt an under handed  back door deal. It's clear that no effort was given to reach out to and understand the kiters of our community. They have been lumped in with parasailers, which doesn't even take place at the park. What is different from the last twenty  years and today? Not one damn thing. It was never a problem (except to the environmentalists who want to remove all the people from Huguenot park). Kiters were given EXPRESS permission to enjoy the sport precisely because we were never a threat to any public safety. Kiters have fought for everyone's access. Why? Because they were singled out as the one group that stood in the way of removing public access to the park. Who stood up and raised the alarm when Audubon sponsored by Sierra Club tried to close the park (and was actually successful for 24 hours)? Who has done more beach cleaning? Who has saved over 40 people that were in real danger of drowning at the park? KITEBOARDERS that's who. Without acolades they have worked long and hard to build bridges and open discussion.They were told that there was no plan to kick them out of the park. That no action would take place to alter the long established kiting use at the park. ALL LIES! Anyone who might be interested in ever enjoying the park should take note. When kiters told pet owners that they would be removed from the park no one beleved it. Where are dog owners now? Not at the park! This is the next step to closing the gates at Huguenot Park. Take note. It's. coming. As the voice of opposition is diminished so will the voice for access be diminished.