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QuoteBy The Times-Union
Huguenot Park is the only place in Duval County where cars are allowed on the beach. But some of that access may soon be limited to increase public safety and protect wildlife, and visitors may be paying higher fees. The changes are part of a lease renewal process with the state and federal governments. The proposal is still in its draft stages and must be completed by the end of next year. In the meantime, the city wants to hear from park users and residents.
These are the major changes and the implications:
Proposal: Increase park-entrance fees from 50 cents per person to $3 per car.Why? Admissions revenue goes toward the annual operating cost of about $565,000. Additional revenue from nearby Hanna Park supplements those costs. None of the operating money comes from the city's general fund.Reaction: A.J. Wright, 16, who lives about a quarter of a mile from Huguenot, hates the thought of paying as much as $21 a week to surf daily. "I'm not going to be able to afford to come out here as much," he said.
Proposal: Limit the number of vehicles on the beach to 701 a day. Create a parking lane and two driving lanes. Close off the inlet side of the park to vehicles. It doesn't limit pedestrian access.Why? Though weekday traffic is often low, several thousand vehicles are on the beach during peak weekends. City officials said they don't know of serious injuries at the beach, but they're concerned a pedestrian could be injured by the vehicles if there isn't more order. Having a defined parking area could deter vehicles getting stuck in soft sand and protect wildlife.Reaction: Some park users are unhappy about the proposed restrictions. Jun Borja, 56, of Northside said he only goes out to Huguenot for fishing because he can park on the inlet side. But many liked the idea of organized parking. Tisha Gibson, 35, who brings her three children from Orange Park, likes the idea of set driving and parking lanes. "I shouldn't have to worry about them getting run over," she said.
Proposal: Protect wildlife by shutting down areas of the beach during nesting and hatching season for migratory shore birds.Why: The city is required to protect the wildlife at Huguenot Park. For instance, red knots migrate from Argentina to the Arctic. One of their stops along the way is Huguenot Park. If they're disturbed, they won't get enough calories for the rest of their flight, according to Julie Wraithmell of Audubon of Florida.Reaction: Wraithmell supports the city's plan to protect wildlife. Others agree that it's up to man to protect nature. "They should be protected. Everything is a compromise, a compromise between man and nature," said Pranaya Neupane of Baymeadows, who was feeding the birds with family members.
Proposal: Build an overflow parking lot for vehicles not allowed on the beach when capacity has been reached. Renovate various recreational areas, including the camping area, park store and restrooms and make repairs to the main road.Why? The city's lease requires a management plan that balances wildlife protection and recreational opportunities. The city doesn't have enough money to do most of the projects immediately, but including them in the plan would give the city the necessary approval when money is available.Reaction: Scott Shine, chairman of the Open Beaches Foundation and member of the city's Huguenot advisory committee, doesn't understand why the city is talking about adding new amenities to the park, which will attract more people, when it's also talking about how to best manage the visitors there already.
HAVE YOUR SAY
A public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ribault Club, 11241 Fort George Road, Fort George Island, for a public meeting to comment on the city's plan. Another public meeting will be scheduled for next year.
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/111307/met_217175770.shtml.
All of the proposals sound good except the access fee being more than tripled. If Hannah Park suplements the op-erating costs why raise the fee so high? I can understand a fee increase but $3.00 per car is a bit steep. Right now it costs 50 cents per person so why not raise it to say 75 cents per person? That way those that want to go to the beach by themselves or with one other person they won't be severely penalized. A carload of 4 or more people will be paying $3.00 anyways. The perception of raising the per-person fee by a quarter will be much more accepted versus seeing the fees posted at $3.00 per car load.