Huguenot Park - Your access today!

[kitester]

Well there you have it. Its official and they are coming to take your park away from you. Represented as a done deal that the park will have large portions closed was the story on the evening news. No longer are the bird lobby standing in the shadows Its an all out effort to steal the access to Huguenot Park from this community. Under the guise of wildlife protection the Audubon and Sierra Club have orchestrated the removal of what will be the last place for the common man to enjoy the water front and area beaches. The birds dont and never did need permanent year round protections. All that is necessary was the temporary, adaptable, seasonal closures for the fledgling birds. But if you thought that was enough you were wrong! They want all of you out! The fishermen, the jet skis the swimmers and the surfers are all going to lose. The plan all along has been to eliminate the beach driving (read you) on this one mile stretch of sand. They know that this will cause the park to close and they will step in and offer to manage it as a bird preserve. To all those who say the birds were there first ...BS The thousands of birds did not nest there until about 8 years ago. I watched the colony grow from a few to the massive Laughing gull flocks that nest there now.   In fact the Audubon and the FWC are responsible for the loss of biodiversity that existed there before their controlled burn. The city had it handled just fine before the Audubon and Sierra Club lobbied the ARC and the Army Corps of Engineers to not let the city have its lease to this man made beach. If they close any part of the beach permanently to driving it will be the beginning of the end for park patrons. I urge all of you who enjoy the park to raise your voice at the public meeting on    June 21st at the OceanWay community Center. This will be you last chance to keep the park open and maintain your access. Tell your city councilmen to kick the Audubon to the curb and tell Sierra Club to take a hike (somewhere else). Dont let them steal the park from you with misinformation and lies. The park belongs to you (literally) so stand up and say enough is enough!       

[kitester]

Well there you have it. Its official and they are coming to take your park away from you. Represented as a done deal that the park will have large portions closed was the story on the evening news. No longer are the bird lobby standing in the shadows Its an all out effort to steal the access to Huguenot Park from this community. Under the guise of wildlife protection the Audubon and Sierra Club have orchestrated the removal of what will be the last place for the common man to enjoy the water front and area beaches. The birds dont and never did need permanent year round protections. All that is necessary was the temporary, adaptable, seasonal closures for the fledgling birds. But if you thought that was enough you were wrong! They want all of you out! The fishermen, the jet skis the swimmers and the surfers are all going to lose. The plan all along has been to eliminate the beach driving (read you) on this one mile stretch of sand. They know that this will cause the park to close and they will step in and offer to manage it as a bird preserve. To all those who say the birds were there first ...BS The thousands of birds did not nest there until about 8 years ago. I watched the colony grow from a few to the massive Laughing gull flocks that nest there now.   In fact the Audubon and the FWC are responsible for the loss of biodiversity that existed there before their controlled burn. The city had it handled just fine before the Audubon and Sierra Club lobbied the ARC and the Army Corps of Engineers to not let the city have its lease to this man made beach. If they close any part of the beach permanently to driving it will be the beginning of the end for park patrons. I urge all of you who enjoy the park to raise your voice at the public meeting on    June 21st at the OceanWay community Center. This will be you last chance to keep the park open and maintain your access. Tell your city councilmen to kick the Audubon to the curb and tell Sierra Club to take a hike (somewhere else). Dont let them steal the park from you with misinformation and lies. The park belongs to you (literally) so stand up and say enough is enough!       

[kitester]

The following is a flyer that is being passed out at the beach. Please print a copy of it for yourself and give one to anyone you know who enjoys the beach at Huguenot Park.

                                                              Front page

YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR      BEACH ACCESS!!!!!!  The local Audubon Society and the Sierra Club want your beach.  They have publicly stated they wish to eliminate all vehicles from the beach. They have already been successful removing dogs and dog owners. They are responsible for the unnecessary, ugly ropes and posts around the “pond”. They forced the City to spend 6 Million Dollars of your taxpayer money and now they want you kicked off the beach! Will you be next? Their plan is close off the beach a section at a time until the beach is closed to all vehicular traffic. But, you CAN stop it.  There will be a Public Meeting concerning plans to close off the first section of the beach. Here are the details:

                                   6 PM Monday June 21, 2010
                                  Oceanway Community Center
                                  12215 Sago Ave. Jax, Fl. 32218

                               GOOGLE IT OR ASK A FRIEND!

Further closures and restrictions will result in lost revenue used to keep this park open and available to the people of this community. Beach driving is what sustains this park’s public access. Without it your park will be closed and turned into a bird preserve with no off beach parking. 


PERMENENT CLOSURES are unnecessary for wildlife protections and Huguenot Park is not the environmentally sensitive place the bird lobby wants you to believe it is. No endangered or even threatened species nest in he park. If you did not see it on channel 4 news pay attention to it here. This could be the beginning of the end of your ability to enjoy the beach and the ocean. Don’t let this happen raise your voice and oppose more restrictions or closures. Tell your councilman that you want the Audubon and sierra Club bird lobby to quit attempting  “end run plays” around the people of Jacksonville and our elected officials.
                            BE HEARD AT THIS MEETING!

SERVE NOTICE TO YOUR COUNCILMEN THAT YOU WILL BE WATCHING ! TELL THEM YOUR VOTE WILL DECIDE IF THEY STAY IN OFFICE OR NOT.

For a history of this issue go to Florida Open Beaches on Facebook
                        Or
Visit  the forum page at metrojacksonville.com. Look for “Huguenot Park , your access today” on the public safety page of that forum. 

                                                              Back page

District1                                                                   District 8                                         At Large Council:   Clay Yarborough                                          E. Denise Lee                                  Ronnie Fussell
630-1389                                                     630-1385                                         630-1393
Clay@coj.net                                               EDLee@coj.net                               RonnieF@coj.net

District 2                                                      District 9                                         John R. Crescimbeni
William Bishop                                             Warren A Jones                               630-1381
630-1392                                                      630-1395                                        JRC@coj.net
WBishop@coj.net                                         WAJones@coj.net

District 3                                                       District 10                                       Stephen C. Joost
Richard Clark                                                Reginald L. Brown                            630-1396
630-1386                                                      630-1684                                         Joost@coj.net
RClark@coj.net                                             RBrown@coj.net

District 4                                                      District 11                                         Kevin Hyde
Don Redman                                                Ray Holt                                            630-1398
630-1394                                                      630-1383                                           KHyde@coj.net
Redman@coj.net                                           Holt@coj.net


District 5                                                      District 12                                          Glorious J. Johnson
Art Shad                                                      Daniel Davis                                        630-1387
630-1382                                                      630-1380                                            GloriousJ@coj.net
AShad@coj.net                                             DDavis@coj.net

District 6                                                      District 13
Jack Webb                                                   Art Graham
630-1388                                                      630-1397
Webb@coj.net                                              ArtG@coj.net

District 7                                                       District 14
Dr. Johnny Gaffney                                        Michael Corrigan
630-1384                                                       630-1390
Gaffney@coj.net                                            Corrigan@coj.net


Go to     http://www.coj.net/City+Council/Council+District+Maps.htm  to find your councilman and tell them you are tired of  small  environmental groups and lobbies dictating to you how you can enjoy our natural resources. Tell them to stand up and take back the beach and the water you love and use. Tell then you know the difference between responsible environmental protection and unnecessary permanent restrictions and closures.  Do it before its too late because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!



YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE. DO THEY?

The Oceanway Community center link.... copy and paste it into our browser or just hit google maps for directions

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=oceanway+community+center&fb=1&gl=us&hq=oceanway+community+center&hnear=Jacksonville,+FL&hl=en&view=map&f=d&daddr=12215+Sago+Ave,+Jacksonville,+FL+32218-2658&geocode=CZfaaMBYmazSFWPD0AEdsmYi-yFEy-SRU0IIdA&ved=0CCIQ_wY&ei=PfUVTO-yJZXKzASMuZHMAQ&z=16 
The following is a flyer that is being passed out at the beach. Please print a copy of it for yourself and give one to anyone you know who enjoys the beach at Huguenot Park.

                                                              Front page

YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR      BEACH ACCESS!!!!!!  The local Audubon Society and the Sierra Club want your beach.  They have publicly stated they wish to eliminate all vehicles from the beach. They have already been successful removing dogs and dog owners. They are responsible for the unnecessary, ugly ropes and posts around the “pond”. They forced the City to spend 6 Million Dollars of your taxpayer money and now they want you kicked off the beach! Will you be next? Their plan is close off the beach a section at a time until the beach is closed to all vehicular traffic. But, you CAN stop it.  There will be a Public Meeting concerning plans to close off the first section of the beach. Here are the details:

                                   6 PM Monday June 21, 2010
                                  Oceanway Community Center
                                  12215 Sago Ave. Jax, Fl. 32218

                               GOOGLE IT OR ASK A FRIEND!

Further closures and restrictions will result in lost revenue used to keep this park open and available to the people of this community. Beach driving is what sustains this park’s public access. Without it your park will be closed and turned into a bird preserve with no off beach parking. 


PERMENENT CLOSURES are unnecessary for wildlife protections and Huguenot Park is not the environmentally sensitive place the bird lobby wants you to believe it is. No endangered or even threatened species nest in he park. If you did not see it on channel 4 news pay attention to it here. This could be the beginning of the end of your ability to enjoy the beach and the ocean. Don’t let this happen raise your voice and oppose more restrictions or closures. Tell your councilman that you want the Audubon and sierra Club bird lobby to quit attempting  “end run plays” around the people of Jacksonville and our elected officials.
                            BE HEARD AT THIS MEETING!

SERVE NOTICE TO YOUR COUNCILMEN THAT YOU WILL BE WATCHING ! TELL THEM YOUR VOTE WILL DECIDE IF THEY STAY IN OFFICE OR NOT.

For a history of this issue go to Florida Open Beaches on Facebook
                        Or
Visit  the forum page at metrojacksonville.com. Look for “Huguenot Park , your access today” on the public safety page of that forum. 

                                                              Back page

District1                                                                   District 8                                         At Large Council:   Clay Yarborough                                          E. Denise Lee                                  Ronnie Fussell
630-1389                                                     630-1385                                         630-1393
Clay@coj.net                                               EDLee@coj.net                               RonnieF@coj.net

District 2                                                      District 9                                         John R. Crescimbeni
William Bishop                                             Warren A Jones                               630-1381
630-1392                                                      630-1395                                        JRC@coj.net
WBishop@coj.net                                         WAJones@coj.net

District 3                                                       District 10                                       Stephen C. Joost
Richard Clark                                                Reginald L. Brown                            630-1396
630-1386                                                      630-1684                                         Joost@coj.net
RClark@coj.net                                             RBrown@coj.net

District 4                                                      District 11                                         Kevin Hyde
Don Redman                                                Ray Holt                                            630-1398
630-1394                                                      630-1383                                           KHyde@coj.net
Redman@coj.net                                           Holt@coj.net


District 5                                                      District 12                                          Glorious J. Johnson
Art Shad                                                      Daniel Davis                                        630-1387
630-1382                                                      630-1380                                            GloriousJ@coj.net
AShad@coj.net                                             DDavis@coj.net

District 6                                                      District 13
Jack Webb                                                   Art Graham
630-1388                                                      630-1397
Webb@coj.net                                              ArtG@coj.net

District 7                                                       District 14
Dr. Johnny Gaffney                                        Michael Corrigan
630-1384                                                       630-1390
Gaffney@coj.net                                            Corrigan@coj.net


Go to     http://www.coj.net/City+Council/Council+District+Maps.htm  to find your councilman and tell them you are tired of  small  environmental groups and lobbies dictating to you how you can enjoy our natural resources. Tell them to stand up and take back the beach and the water you love and use. Tell then you know the difference between responsible environmental protection and unnecessary permanent restrictions and closures.  Do it before its too late because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!



YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE. DO THEY?

The Oceanway Community center link.... copy and paste it into our browser or just hit google maps for directions

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=oceanway+community+center&fb=1&gl=us&hq=oceanway+community+center&hnear=Jacksonville,+FL&hl=en&view=map&f=d&daddr=12215+Sago+Ave,+Jacksonville,+FL+32218-2658&geocode=CZfaaMBYmazSFWPD0AEdsmYi-yFEy-SRU0IIdA&ved=0CCIQ_wY&ei=PfUVTO-yJZXKzASMuZHMAQ&z=16 

[kitester]

The following is a flyer that is being passed out at the beach. Please print a copy of it for yourself and give one to anyone you know who enjoys the beach at Huguenot Park.

                                                              Front page

YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR      BEACH ACCESS!!!!!!  The local Audubon Society and the Sierra Club want your beach.  They have publicly stated they wish to eliminate all vehicles from the beach. They have already been successful removing dogs and dog owners. They are responsible for the unnecessary, ugly ropes and posts around the “pond”. They forced the City to spend 6 Million Dollars of your taxpayer money and now they want you kicked off the beach! Will you be next? Their plan is close off the beach a section at a time until the beach is closed to all vehicular traffic. But, you CAN stop it.  There will be a Public Meeting concerning plans to close off the first section of the beach. Here are the details:

                                   6 PM Monday June 21, 2010
                                  Oceanway Community Center
                                  12215 Sago Ave. Jax, Fl. 32218

                               GOOGLE IT OR ASK A FRIEND!

Further closures and restrictions will result in lost revenue used to keep this park open and available to the people of this community. Beach driving is what sustains this park’s public access. Without it your park will be closed and turned into a bird preserve with no off beach parking. 


PERMENENT CLOSURES are unnecessary for wildlife protections and Huguenot Park is not the environmentally sensitive place the bird lobby wants you to believe it is. No endangered or even threatened species nest in he park. If you did not see it on channel 4 news pay attention to it here. This could be the beginning of the end of your ability to enjoy the beach and the ocean. Don’t let this happen raise your voice and oppose more restrictions or closures. Tell your councilman that you want the Audubon and sierra Club bird lobby to quit attempting  “end run plays” around the people of Jacksonville and our elected officials.
                            BE HEARD AT THIS MEETING!

SERVE NOTICE TO YOUR COUNCILMEN THAT YOU WILL BE WATCHING ! TELL THEM YOUR VOTE WILL DECIDE IF THEY STAY IN OFFICE OR NOT.

For a history of this issue go to Florida Open Beaches on Facebook
                        Or
Visit  the forum page at metrojacksonville.com. Look for “Huguenot Park , your access today” on the public safety page of that forum. 

                                                              Back page

District1                                                                   District 8                                         At Large Council:   Clay Yarborough                                          E. Denise Lee                                  Ronnie Fussell
630-1389                                                     630-1385                                         630-1393
Clay@coj.net                                               EDLee@coj.net                               RonnieF@coj.net

District 2                                                      District 9                                         John R. Crescimbeni
William Bishop                                             Warren A Jones                               630-1381
630-1392                                                      630-1395                                        JRC@coj.net
WBishop@coj.net                                         WAJones@coj.net

District 3                                                       District 10                                       Stephen C. Joost
Richard Clark                                                Reginald L. Brown                            630-1396
630-1386                                                      630-1684                                         Joost@coj.net
RClark@coj.net                                             RBrown@coj.net

District 4                                                      District 11                                         Kevin Hyde
Don Redman                                                Ray Holt                                            630-1398
630-1394                                                      630-1383                                           KHyde@coj.net
Redman@coj.net                                           Holt@coj.net


District 5                                                      District 12                                          Glorious J. Johnson
Art Shad                                                      Daniel Davis                                        630-1387
630-1382                                                      630-1380                                            GloriousJ@coj.net
AShad@coj.net                                             DDavis@coj.net

District 6                                                      District 13
Jack Webb                                                   Art Graham
630-1388                                                      630-1397
Webb@coj.net                                              ArtG@coj.net

District 7                                                       District 14
Dr. Johnny Gaffney                                        Michael Corrigan
630-1384                                                       630-1390
Gaffney@coj.net                                            Corrigan@coj.net


Go to     http://www.coj.net/City+Council/Council+District+Maps.htm  to find your councilman and tell them you are tired of  small  environmental groups and lobbies dictating to you how you can enjoy our natural resources. Tell them to stand up and take back the beach and the water you love and use. Tell then you know the difference between responsible environmental protection and unnecessary permanent restrictions and closures.  Do it before its too late because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!



YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE. DO THEY?

The Oceanway Community center link.... copy and paste it into our browser or just hit google maps for directions

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=oceanway+community+center&fb=1&gl=us&hq=oceanway+community+center&hnear=Jacksonville,+FL&hl=en&view=map&f=d&daddr=12215+Sago+Ave,+Jacksonville,+FL+32218-2658&geocode=CZfaaMBYmazSFWPD0AEdsmYi-yFEy-SRU0IIdA&ved=0CCIQ_wY&ei=PfUVTO-yJZXKzASMuZHMAQ&z=16 

[kitester]

The following is a flyer that is being passed out at the beach. Please print a copy of it for yourself and give one to anyone you know who enjoys the beach at Huguenot Park.

                                                              Front page

YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR      BEACH ACCESS!!!!!!  The local Audubon Society and the Sierra Club want your beach.  They have publicly stated they wish to eliminate all vehicles from the beach. They have already been successful removing dogs and dog owners. They are responsible for the unnecessary, ugly ropes and posts around the “pond”. They forced the City to spend 6 Million Dollars of your taxpayer money and now they want you kicked off the beach! Will you be next? Their plan is close off the beach a section at a time until the beach is closed to all vehicular traffic. But, you CAN stop it.  There will be a Public Meeting concerning plans to close off the first section of the beach. Here are the details:

                                   6 PM Monday June 21, 2010
                                  Oceanway Community Center
                                  12215 Sago Ave. Jax, Fl. 32218

                               GOOGLE IT OR ASK A FRIEND!

Further closures and restrictions will result in lost revenue used to keep this park open and available to the people of this community. Beach driving is what sustains this park’s public access. Without it your park will be closed and turned into a bird preserve with no off beach parking. 


PERMENENT CLOSURES are unnecessary for wildlife protections and Huguenot Park is not the environmentally sensitive place the bird lobby wants you to believe it is. No endangered or even threatened species nest in he park. If you did not see it on channel 4 news pay attention to it here. This could be the beginning of the end of your ability to enjoy the beach and the ocean. Don’t let this happen raise your voice and oppose more restrictions or closures. Tell your councilman that you want the Audubon and sierra Club bird lobby to quit attempting  “end run plays” around the people of Jacksonville and our elected officials.
                            BE HEARD AT THIS MEETING!

SERVE NOTICE TO YOUR COUNCILMEN THAT YOU WILL BE WATCHING ! TELL THEM YOUR VOTE WILL DECIDE IF THEY STAY IN OFFICE OR NOT.

For a history of this issue go to Florida Open Beaches on Facebook
                        Or
Visit  the forum page at metrojacksonville.com. Look for “Huguenot Park , your access today” on the public safety page of that forum. 

                                                              Back page

District1                                                                   District 8                                         At Large Council:   Clay Yarborough                                          E. Denise Lee                                  Ronnie Fussell
630-1389                                                     630-1385                                         630-1393
Clay@coj.net                                               EDLee@coj.net                               RonnieF@coj.net

District 2                                                      District 9                                         John R. Crescimbeni
William Bishop                                             Warren A Jones                               630-1381
630-1392                                                      630-1395                                        JRC@coj.net
WBishop@coj.net                                         WAJones@coj.net

District 3                                                       District 10                                       Stephen C. Joost
Richard Clark                                                Reginald L. Brown                            630-1396
630-1386                                                      630-1684                                         Joost@coj.net
RClark@coj.net                                             RBrown@coj.net

District 4                                                      District 11                                         Kevin Hyde
Don Redman                                                Ray Holt                                            630-1398
630-1394                                                      630-1383                                           KHyde@coj.net
Redman@coj.net                                           Holt@coj.net


District 5                                                      District 12                                          Glorious J. Johnson
Art Shad                                                      Daniel Davis                                        630-1387
630-1382                                                      630-1380                                            GloriousJ@coj.net
AShad@coj.net                                             DDavis@coj.net

District 6                                                      District 13
Jack Webb                                                   Art Graham
630-1388                                                      630-1397
Webb@coj.net                                              ArtG@coj.net

District 7                                                       District 14
Dr. Johnny Gaffney                                        Michael Corrigan
630-1384                                                       630-1390
Gaffney@coj.net                                            Corrigan@coj.net


Go to     http://www.coj.net/City+Council/Council+District+Maps.htm  to find your councilman and tell them you are tired of  small  environmental groups and lobbies dictating to you how you can enjoy our natural resources. Tell them to stand up and take back the beach and the water you love and use. Tell then you know the difference between responsible environmental protection and unnecessary permanent restrictions and closures.  Do it before its too late because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!



YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE. DO THEY?

The Oceanway Community center link.... copy and paste it into our browser or just hit google maps for directions

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=oceanway+community+center&fb=1&gl=us&hq=oceanway+community+center&hnear=Jacksonville,+FL&hl=en&view=map&f=d&daddr=12215+Sago+Ave,+Jacksonville,+FL+32218-2658&geocode=CZfaaMBYmazSFWPD0AEdsmYi-yFEy-SRU0IIdA&ved=0CCIQ_wY&ei=PfUVTO-yJZXKzASMuZHMAQ&z=16 

[kitester]

When people think about sports they think of football, soccer, golf or baseball. Fishing, swimming, sailing, surfing, kitesurfing and kayaking are sports too. Unfortunately on of the best places to enjoy all those sports is about to be taken away. The people of Jacksonville are about to be sacrificed for FALSE environmental reasons. Read below and find out how you can stop it. To put it in perspective more people go to Huguenot Park, the north jetty, than go to Jaguar games.   

[kitester]

The following is a flyer that is being passed out at the beach. Please print a copy of it for yourself and give one to anyone you know who enjoys the beach at Huguenot Park.

                                                              Front page

YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR      BEACH ACCESS!!!!!!  The local Audubon Society and the Sierra Club want your beach.  They have publicly stated they wish to eliminate all vehicles from the beach. They have already been successful removing dogs and dog owners. They are responsible for the unnecessary, ugly ropes and posts around the “pond”. They forced the City to spend 6 Million Dollars of your taxpayer money and now they want you kicked off the beach! Will you be next? Their plan is close off the beach a section at a time until the beach is closed to all vehicular traffic. But, you CAN stop it.  There will be a Public Meeting concerning plans to close off the first section of the beach. Here are the details:

                                   6 PM Monday June 21, 2010
                                  Oceanway Community Center
                                  12215 Sago Ave. Jax, Fl. 32218

                               GOOGLE IT OR ASK A FRIEND!

Further closures and restrictions will result in lost revenue used to keep this park open and available to the people of this community. Beach driving is what sustains this park’s public access. Without it your park will be closed and turned into a bird preserve with no off beach parking. 


PERMENENT CLOSURES are unnecessary for wildlife protections and Huguenot Park is not the environmentally sensitive place the bird lobby wants you to believe it is. No endangered or even threatened species nest in he park. If you did not see it on channel 4 news pay attention to it here. This could be the beginning of the end of your ability to enjoy the beach and the ocean. Don’t let this happen raise your voice and oppose more restrictions or closures. Tell your councilman that you want the Audubon and sierra Club bird lobby to quit attempting  “end run plays” around the people of Jacksonville and our elected officials.
                            BE HEARD AT THIS MEETING!

SERVE NOTICE TO YOUR COUNCILMEN THAT YOU WILL BE WATCHING ! TELL THEM YOUR VOTE WILL DECIDE IF THEY STAY IN OFFICE OR NOT.

For a history of this issue go to Florida Open Beaches on Facebook
                        Or
Visit  the forum page at metrojacksonville.com. Look for “Huguenot Park , your access today” on the public safety page of that forum. 

                                                              Back page

District1                                                                   District 8                                         At Large Council:   Clay Yarborough                                          E. Denise Lee                                  Ronnie Fussell
630-1389                                                     630-1385                                         630-1393
Clay@coj.net                                               EDLee@coj.net                               RonnieF@coj.net

District 2                                                      District 9                                         John R. Crescimbeni
William Bishop                                             Warren A Jones                               630-1381
630-1392                                                      630-1395                                        JRC@coj.net
WBishop@coj.net                                         WAJones@coj.net

District 3                                                       District 10                                       Stephen C. Joost
Richard Clark                                                Reginald L. Brown                            630-1396
630-1386                                                      630-1684                                         Joost@coj.net
RClark@coj.net                                             RBrown@coj.net

District 4                                                      District 11                                         Kevin Hyde
Don Redman                                                Ray Holt                                            630-1398
630-1394                                                      630-1383                                           KHyde@coj.net
Redman@coj.net                                           Holt@coj.net


District 5                                                      District 12                                          Glorious J. Johnson
Art Shad                                                      Daniel Davis                                        630-1387
630-1382                                                      630-1380                                            GloriousJ@coj.net
AShad@coj.net                                             DDavis@coj.net

District 6                                                      District 13
Jack Webb                                                   Art Graham
630-1388                                                      630-1397
Webb@coj.net                                              ArtG@coj.net

District 7                                                       District 14
Dr. Johnny Gaffney                                        Michael Corrigan
630-1384                                                       630-1390
Gaffney@coj.net                                            Corrigan@coj.net


Go to     http://www.coj.net/City+Council/Council+District+Maps.htm  to find your councilman and tell them you are tired of  small  environmental groups and lobbies dictating to you how you can enjoy our natural resources. Tell them to stand up and take back the beach and the water you love and use. Tell then you know the difference between responsible environmental protection and unnecessary permanent restrictions and closures.  Do it before its too late because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!



YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE. DO THEY?

The Oceanway Community center link.... copy and paste it into our browser or just hit google maps for directions

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=oceanway+community+center&fb=1&gl=us&hq=oceanway+community+center&hnear=Jacksonville,+FL&hl=en&view=map&f=d&daddr=12215+Sago+Ave,+Jacksonville,+FL+32218-2658&geocode=CZfaaMBYmazSFWPD0AEdsmYi-yFEy-SRU0IIdA&ved=0CCIQ_wY&ei=PfUVTO-yJZXKzASMuZHMAQ&z=16 

[kitester]

Huguenot Park in North Jacksonville has long been a popular place for beach visitors. Fishermen, kayakers and surfers who frequent the park to take advantage of the open access to some of the states cleanest open water and widest white sand beaches. One of the parks special features is the ability of park patrons to drive out on to beach and right up to the water. Over the past ten years approximately 400,000 people have visited the park each year. But if environmentalists have their way large portions of the park will be closed to automotive traffic for ever and small capacity restrictions will be placed on the park. The Audubon Society and The Sierra Club want to incorporate the park into the large tracts of land they already control west and north of the park. In an effort reduce the number of people and cars in the park and gain control of its resources they have lobbied the ARC, Acquired Recreational Lands Committee, in Tallahassee to prevent the City of Jacksonville from obtaining its state and federal lease agreements. Over the past six years these environmental groups have been instrumental in forcing the city to provide a Park Management Plan that cost the taxpayers of this city over six million dollars. Now they are saying that the management plan which they directed and approved is not good enough and greater restrictions and closures must be put in place to protect wildlife at the park. The current management plan calls for seasonal restrictions and closures as necessary for fledging baby birds or feeding, migrating birds. The FWC  has repeatedly signed off on the plan saying that it has met all of the environmental and wildlife requirements necessary to protect the area and its wildlife in and around the park. But environmental groups have continued to lobby and now the DEP is looking at the park and considering sweeping changes to the management program which would include permanent closures to over 75% of the park land to cars and loss of access for many people who come to the park to fish or swim. No driving or parking would be allowed anywhere in the park except for parts of a 3500 foot stretch along the Atlantic side. As called for in the current management plan large sections of that area will also be car free. While the park can easily accommodate 8000 people at low tide the maximum capacity that the environmental groups want to set in place has been close to only 700. Part of the discussion surrounding this city park is its ability to fund its self. Huguenot operates just in the red most years with the remaining costs being covered by revenue from Hanna Park, the city's only other beach front park. If most of the beach access is removed the future of the park is in serious question. The tough economy which has forced the city to close fire stations, suspend hiring and lay off city workers could also result in reduced revenue for the trust fund that pays for operating Huguenot and Hanna Parks. If the fund can no longer support both parks one of them would have to close. That could be the moment the environmental lobby has been waiting for.                 

[kitester]

An important meeting will be held at the Oceanway Community Center on the 21 of this month. If you use the park you need to be there. See the other postings under the public safety forum etc. This park is under attack. Don't let it disappear!

This is especially important for you guys!

[kitester]

An important meeting will be held at the Oceanway Community Center on the 21 of this month. If you use the park you need to be there. See the other postings under the public safety forum etc. This park is under attack. Don't let it disappear!

[Cricket]

I heard you the first time.

[copperfiend]

I heard you the first time.

To quote Kenan Thompson, "What up with dat!".

[buckethead]

This is kitester's pet issue. His screen name seems to indicate he/she is a kiteboarder. Huguenot is the premier location in the area for that sport.

It's understandable that he is bumping this to keep it visible. It is a very important issue. Once they rob us of access to the park, we won't likely get it back.

Spamming the forums is not a good way to gain support, but periodically bumping a single thread seems much more reasonable.

[Springfielder]

cant take your don either   Audubon saw to that

You can blame the irresponsible dog owners, not the Audubon...let's place that blame where it belongs. As for the constant posting of the same information over and over, that gets really old and like someone else stated, you lose support by that, not gain.

I enjoy going to the park, but have no problem with not driving my vehicle onto the beach, so I have no issue with sections of it being blocked off to traffic. I've heard all of your arguments and still don't have a problem with it.

[kitester]

Sorry to all...

I placed the information on different part of the forum so people who might be interested but unaware could be directed to the primary thread. This was not an attempt to "hijack" the forum. The park is a special place that so many of our community use. but they are often unaware of the closing that are being pushed for. I strongly suggest that all of you find your councilman's e-mail or send them a hard copy in the snail mail. Here is a copy that I sent.

Mr. Corrigan,

My family moved here in 1969 and my wife I have never been very involved with the politics of our city. I lead a simple existence as a small business owner of a lawn maintenance  company. She works for a medical supply manufacturer and distributor. One of the few pleasures we participate in is the enjoyment of our beaches and water in and around the city. We feel that these things are one of our city's greatest resources. But over the past five years we have become increasingly alarmed by efforts of environmental groups like the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club to restrict and remove access to the areas beaches and water. Having provided literally hundreds of hours of volunteer time to those organizations and others like B.E.A.K.E.S., Animal Rescue and Bird Rescue, I find it very disheartening to see these groups lobbying to shut down public access. This seems to be a nationwide trend. The same challenges that other communities have been facing has come to our town. I am sure you are aware of the controversy surrounding Huguenot Park and the north jetty area. Because of the (admittedly informal) education I received from Audubon over the years of volunteer  service I have come to be sensitive to the needs of our surrounding natural environment. I cleaned many oiled birds found in the river back in the 70's and 80's as part of bird rescue. For over two decades I participated in annual censes of bird species for the Audubon Society. My wife and I help rehabilitate sick, injured or young wildlife when ever asked. And, I conduct my lawn business in an environmentally responsible way. I currently serve as a volunteer on the city's Shore Bird Management Committee.  I tell you this so you will understand that I am not in any way an anti-environmentalist. I do not make rash emotional arguments. But, I do attempt to make sense of changes and trends in a rational way. That is why I can not understand why the environmental groups want to remove public access to Huguenot Park. I have spent over ten thousand hours over the last ten years recreating at Huguenot Park. I enjoy water activities as well as bird watching in the park. Over the past ten years the number of people visiting the park has remained around the 400K mark. During that time the wildlife, especially nesting birds and turtles, flourished in the dunes and on the beaches. The water remains some of the cleanest open water in the state. The park manager and staff are extremely efficient, and keep the park very clean even on the busiest weekends. City park employes place temporary adaptive protections when necessary around baby birds and regular patrolling park personnel and JSO officers make sure the birds and wildlife are not disturbed and "educate" people about responsible use of the park. In short the park is clean and safe for both the environment and the park patrons. So I believe that no further restrictions or closures are necessary. Many other people I have talked to feel the same way. Why must we sacrifice our access to one of the last places the common man has to the beaches and water? What gives the environmental lobby the right to dictate to our community a narrow minded agenda focused on removal of beach driving when overwhelming evidence demonstrates no environmental damage? Why must this one mile stretch of man made beach be taken from our people to satisfy a small special interest group? There is a public meeting to be held on the June 21, 2010 at the Oceanway Community Center on the northside of town.  I hope you will be there to ask or answer these questions. I hope you will protect our communities interests and insure that our beaches and waterways remain open and accessible for all the people. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.


Duval county resident
Huguenot Park Patron
Member of the Shore Bird Management team