Huguenot Park - Your access today!

[buckethead]

Are BB Guns allowed in the park?

[kitester]

Another update....

The park has gotten one of those flashing traffic signs. It is telling people before they enter the park drive that dogs will no longer be allowed into the park. If you used to bring your dog please leave him at home. If you "smuggle" a dog in you will be asked to leave the park and you could be fined.

also there are 38 counted Red Knots in the park so far. The trigger for volunteer protection efforts is 50. Still, if you see them or you walk out onto the shoal area be careful to keep a  respectful distance.....100 feet should do it.

Car restrictions on the shoals should go into effect as soon as the permit for the posts is confirmed. However please dont drive out onto the shoals even if the signs are not up. Thanks.

I know you are just kidding about the BB gun. But here is how stupid some people are......Some years ago some politician, a small FL. town mayor I think, was in a fishing comp down south. Terns and gulls were diving on top of his bait so he got a shotgun and began shooting the birds. What an idiot! But it goes to show how some people just don't get it. Just like the Ga. guys who drove through the baby birds on purpose when they first started showing up on the park beach about 8 years ago. There is no accounting for brains. Be careful what you post even in fun.

Thanks again to all the readers of this post and pass the word. It is appreciated and the access you save may be your own.         

[kitester]

I just realized that I forgot to post that the park will be closed today and tomorrow while the road is repaved.

[Livein32206]

Thanks for the update, and I hope that people will respect the birds and other wildlife.

[kitester]

I got the chance to visit the park yesterday. The new road is very nice. The city is committed to concerted effort in keeping the park a place for all the people of Jacksonville. However the pet owners are still excluded year round after May 1st. They are also committed to preserve the CWA and dunes. The following information is third hand.....  Apparently one person is challenging the effort of the city to remove him permanently from the park. He has been asked to leave because he thinks the rules dont apply to him and has been four wheeling in the dunes. I was told that this was not his first time doing this.  I was also told he was charged with destruction of public property. Just a reminder, The dunes are off limits. There is no need to go into them at all and all dune vegetation, especially sea oats, are protected by law. The CWA has special  consideration and protections. The gulls and terns are beginning to nest for the season so any infraction is carefully recorded by the environmental lobby to be used as evidence to remove people from the park or at least large parts of it. Dont give them the justification they want. Enjoy the park responsibly.     

[kitester]

I guess the guy in question was in the paper too. Seems he had more than one citation.   

I was also told that there was an incident where underage guys were displaying beer while driving down the beach! I guess there is no accounting for brains. They were arrested. To all that visit the park remember that the beach there is considered the same as a city road and all the normal traffic laws apply. They can even get you for not wearing a seat belt. The patrolmen in the park are very cool and will not press the issue if you are driving in a safe responsible manner. But if you feel the need to show off and spin the tires or do doughnuts when they write that ticket they could write the other one too.   

[RiversideLoki]

I avoid Huguenot at all costs anymore. It's become a breeding ground for rednecks and sand-pirates. It's a shame, too. Because it used to be a nice park. While I'm glad that the park patrol are doing their job, the idiots that amass there just wait until patrol is out of sight and continue their B.S..

[kitester]

It actually has improved since the new entrance fee has been put in place. There are fewer cars and the city has unmarked patrols out more. The onsite officer is extremely good. It is true that there is the occasional rowdy group of high-school or collage kids. Not allowing the pets on the beach during the high use times has also had the effect of limiting some of the owners as well. For the most part the people that use the park are well behaved. Also concerned citizens can call the park office to report unsafe driving practices or other disturbances just like they would if people were drag racing or driving crazy on the road in front of their homes. 

Riversidelok,

I know what a "redneck" is but I dont understand the term "sand-pirate". Please explain. How long ago did you go to the park when you thought it was a nice place? what do you like to do on the beach and what beach do you go to now?       

[Springfielder]

I would think it's wanting to enjoy the park without groups of loud, obnoxious drunks...which can kill a nice time for anyone else. It's those clowns that ruin a nice afternoon on the beach.

[kitester]

The truth is that there are not many instances of loud obnoxious drunks out there. I think the the only loud obnoxious thing out there is the ice cream van that plays either rap or foreign language music very loud. I know he needs to advertise but I wish he could turn it down a bit and find some Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffet.

[kitester]

Here is an update about the Red Knot protection being set in place during the seasonal migration within the park.

On Saturday this past weekend there were over 1500 cars and over 4000 patrons enjoying the park. The volunteers along with the park interns set up a line of posts as the tide dropped and exposed the sand bars in the shoal area. About 75 Red Knots were seen feeding in several groups about 100 to 400 yards north of the line. In spite of the high attendance there were no automotive violations and people are still allowed to access the shoals on foot. The volunteers and interns talked to those who did and pointed out the knots, asking people to walk around the birds where ever they might be feeding. The focus is on education and awareness. This method has been incredibly effective and there were only a few instances of people  approaching too closely to feeding knots. On Sunday there was a much smaller attendance due to cool temps, overcast and some rain. Most of the knots remained in the area undisturbed for most of the day and then flew into the "pond" area.

The Audubon and the Sierra Club have forced the city to put in place a series of permanent posts along the waterline. These will be set in place soon to take the place of the volunteer line. The reason for this is because the Audubon does not want to continue to field volunteers or take responsibility for the daily needs of protection even though those protections have worked extremely well. These ugly posts will stretch from the low tide waterline on the Atlantic side all the way across the point to the waterline at the Ft. George River. They will have signs on them that say "no parking or driving beyond this point." While I think it is silly to drive a car onto the shoals, it will destroy your car in less than  a year,  it only becomes a concern when Red Knots are feeding in the park. If the seasonal line manned by volunteers is so successful why is it necessary to place a permanent line of signs? The answer is its not. Of course It's a small jump to imagine that the next sign to be added to the posts might be "NO access beyond this point."  Your access is being eroded away one small step at a time. Your park is being taken away from you a bit at a time and the only real reason is because a small group decided that beach driving was bad.    They have stated that they want this one mile stretch of sand to be included in the hundreds and hundreds of acres of preserved lands already surrounding the park.

So when you see a volunteer or intern out there don't be angry with them. They are proving that it is possible to manage a seasonal situation with a seasonal solution. That is the right way. And when you see the city installing the posts don't be upset with those guys. They don't want to have to put up an eye sore they will have to maintain from then on.

But when you see the stark white posts cutting across the white sandy beach separating you from your access think of the Audubon and Sierra Club.           

[kitester]

Here is an update on the bird populations and protections ongoing at the park.

This year most of the migrating Red Knots skipped the park area and flew north. This may have been due to the effects of cold on the primary food source this winter. Only about 100 birds at a time were seen feeding on the shoals at low tide. Some 2000 were reported on the shores in south Georgia. Volunteers at the park were very successful in educating the public and there were only a few disturbances even during times of high attendance. During weekdays volunteers were almost unnecessary as very few people accessed the shoal areas. The protections continued even when the number of Red Knots dropped to two.

The RK migration is over and the fledgling bird season has begun. New protections have been set up on the front, Atlantic, side of the park for the baby birds that will be emerging from the dunes. At this time there will be no car access to the point from the beach side and a no drive zone will be in place from the last trash can to about 500 feet north. Pedestrian access is still allowed. Please be aware of the baby birds as you walk through this area. If they are clustered near the dune line walk close to the waterline. If they are near the water walk up by the dunes. This protection will remain in place through about late August or until the last of the young birds can fly. So far the backside, Pond and shoreline along the inlet are still accessible by car so jet skies, small sailboats and fishermen can still trailer to the best place to launch or fish in the park. There may be soft sand between the large piling post and the point shoreline. Frequent rain will help pack down loose sand but wind will cause drifts that can be too deep for all but 4X4s to get through. High tides have been closing off access on both the inside and the beach side. So, if you are inclined to visit the point be aware that the water may rise to a point that you may have to wait (45 min. to an hour) before you can drive back. Its no big deal. just plan ahead.

[kitester]

This just in ....

The Audubon and Sierra Club have gotten the city to have another public meeting in its continued efforts to close large parts of the park. The next meeting will be held at the Oceanway Community Center at 6 pm on June 21. Dont let this happen. Let the city know you want to be able to go to the park. All the necessary protections have already been put in place and work just fine. Tell your public representative that permanent closures are not wanted or needed. Tell them to draw the line and protect your access.

I just received call confirming that the target of the permanent closure will be zone 12 through 14. That is the whole point. It will mean the loss of the best fishing, the best boat launching and some of the very best water access for all those people who want to wade or swim. It will be a small step to close off the rest of the inside access since there is no parking there already. Their argument will be why have a driving lane if there is no where to park at the other end? Thus access will be lost to over 75 percent of the park. I said it before. The goal is to restrict access until the park is unable to fund its operations at all and the gates will close. That is what they want. They are trying to turn the park into a bird sanctuary. Its not necessary for the continued existence of any species out there but your access is about to be sacrificed for this non-existent need. Put the date on your calendar and make a commitment to be there. The director of Fl. State Lands, Deborah Popell, will be there to here your voice. Pack the room and make it loud!         

[Burn to Shine]

I've never been there but I certainly rather take my dog to the beach than my car.

[kitester]

cant take your don either   Audubon saw to that