Save Historic American Beach

Discussion starts at 26'25"

Article Published in Jacksonville Florida Times-Union

One battle over beach driving is ending in Nassau County, but another one is just heating up.

American Beach in Nassau County will remain one of the few places along Florida's coast where people can drive on the beach after a group of residents fell short of closing it to motor vehicles.

A federal judge on Sept. 22 dismissed a lawsuit filed by Save Historic American Beach after the non-profit organization and the county signed off on a settlement agreement that makes some changes to beach driving but still allows it where the sandy coastline runs alongside the historic community.

"We got some improvements in terms of controls and restrictions, but we still think the end objective is to end beach driving," said Mark Dawkins, chairman of the organization.

But even as Nassau County was able to close that lawsuit on beach driving by reaching a settlement, it could soon face another round of litigation by residents on the south end of Amelia Island. They were stunned to see the county remove signs last month that had marked about 1.2 miles of beach off-limits to motor vehicles for the past 21 years.

"People were shocked," said Corky Hoffman, who lives in The Sanctuary residential development.

The two sections of beach on the south end of the island and American Beach are separated by a long no-driving in the area of Amelia Island Plantation. In both sections of beach, residents don't think motor vehicles mix safely with beachgoers enjoying the county's sandy coastline.

County commissioners have been trying strike a balance between those concerns and continuing the long tradition of beachgoers having places where they can drive on the beach and pick their spots to park, whether it's for fishing or sunbathing.

Dawkins said he hopes residents along the south end of the island will join American Beach in calling for an end to driving on beach areas that have residential communities behind them.

"We're all similarly situated," he said. "We're residential communities. They're driving behind our community, they're driving behind their community.

"Save Historic American Beach had sought an injunction against driving on the beach on grounds that automobiles pose a danger to nesting sea turtles protected by the Endangered Species Act.

After Save Historic American Beach filed the lawsuit in federal court on April 29, Senior Judge Timothy Corrigan denied a preliminary injunction on June 27 and referred the organization and the county to mediation on July 15.

On Aug. 11, the Nassau County Commission approved a protected species management plan adding more safeguards for sea turtles. The county and Save Historic American Beach then met Aug. 15 with a mediator.

Provisions in the mediated settlement include creating a 10-foot wide conservation zone on the ocean side of the sand dunes. Signs saying "Conservation Zone Do Not Enter" will mark out that area.

The county also will work to relocate the entryway to American Beach that currently takes vehicles onto the beach via Lewis Street, which runs through the middle of the American Beach community.

Dawkins said the current cut through the sand dunes for vehicle access also leaves a big opening for storm surge to push water from the ocean into the neighborhood. Moving the entry would allow the build-up of home-protecting dunes against flooding, Dawkins said.

The county would move the entry way to nearby county-owned Burnley Park.

The settlement agreement also has a provision related to beach driving on the southern end of the island, which has residents there up in arms.

At the Aug. 11 county commission meeting, commissioners passed a map that shows four places where beach driving is allowed: American Beach, Peters Point, the end of Scott Road and the south end of the island. The county's map shows the beach-driving zones are based on a state law and county ordinance from 1989 and a final court judgment entered in 1992.

That state law and judgment have long banned driving on two portions of county-controlled beach where the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island resort and the Omni Amelia Island Resort are located.

But in 2004, the county placed a sign that declared the "No Motor Vehicles" allowed on the south end of the island. That meant that when drivers went onto the beach at Amelia Island State Park, which allows vehicles, and reached the northeast boundary of the park, they saw a sign that they couldn't keep driving on the 1.2 miles of county-managed beach between the state park and the no-drive zone for Amelia Island Plantation.

The county removed that sign after commissioners approved the map on Aug. 11 so vehicles can now use that section of the beach as well.

Hoffman said that switch upended the understanding that residents of Sanctuary, Amelia Retreat and The Residence have had about what's allowed on the beach.

"A lot of people have people have bought and added to their property over the last 21 years relying on that sign and the fact there's no beach driving and their kids could play safely out on the beach," he said.

He notes that according to minutes of the Nassau County meeting in November 2004, commissioners unanimously voted to direct placement of the no-driving sign in a location the county administator "deems necessary for safety reasons."

"They said in the minutes that it was done for safety, which is obviously why this is outlawed in almost all parts of the state," Hoffman said.

He said the final court judgment in 1992 allows the county to ban driving on the south end of the island and residents are prepared to go to court to make the beach off-limits to vehicles again.

Dawkins said if the county closes the south end of the island to vehicles, it should do the same at American Beach.

He said American Beach was cut out of the decision-making process 35 years ago that left it as a "sacrificial lamb" for retaining the option of beach driving while areas for the big resorts, located on either side of American Beach, came no-driving zones. He said filing the lawsuit finally got American Beach a place at the table and going forward, the county needs to treat American Beach fairly. He notes it was the first resort community in Nassau County when it was one of the few beaches open to Black beachgoers during the segregation era.

He said he favors the county ending driving on all the beaches it controls that flank residential neighborhoods.

"If you're going to stop it in any of these communities, you need to stop it in all of these communities," he said. "That's our position."

ASHLEY CHANDLER

News-Leader

Nassau County and Save Historic American Beach have signed a settlement agreement in regard to the non-profit’s lawsuit.

“Even though the mediated settlement agreement does not end beach driving at American Beach, it does provide additional protections and benefits for the American Beach community,” Save Historic American Beach said following the agreement.

“We will continue our efforts to end beach driving at American Beach to protect endangered sea turtles and the coastal dune system protecting our homes and community.”

The settlement agreement, signed Sept. 17, includes several changes that have begun to roll out at Nassau County’s unincorporated beaches. The changes include the potential move of the beach driving access point from Lewis Street to Burney Park and the addition of conservation signs and more speed limit signs on the beaches.

In April, Save Historic American Beach filed a complaint against Nassau County in Federal Court. The nonprofit sought declaratory and Deal injunctive relief to end violations of the Endangered Species Act resulting from beach driving and parking at the beaches located at the American Beach Historic District.

The Save Historic American Beach lawsuit was an attempt to stop beach driving at American Beach.

Evidence the group cited included photographs of dead turtles on the beaches.

“This lawsuit is not just about the past take or death of sea turtles, this is about

the (reasonable) likelihood that death of sea turtles will occur in the future unless things change,” John November, attorney for the nonprofit said at a news con-

ference the day after the suit was filed.

“We believe, and have photographic evidence, that endangered sea turtles have been and are likely to continue to be harmed by beach driving,” stated Mark Dawkins, board president of the nonprofit, in a press release following the settle-

ment agreement. “However, the judge in the case made it clear that he would not rule in our favor and instead recommended mediation.”

Dawkins spoke with the News-Leader on Monday and said, “There were just some things we could not agree to that we thought were important so we’re going to continue our efforts, but I do think they bargained in good faith.”

Members of the nonprofit have been open about the lawsuit and that, though it

was primarily filed to protect the endangered sea turtles, the suit was not just about the turtles.

Dawkins and other representatives of the group told the News-Leader on several

occasions that putting an end to beach driving was also about protecting residents, the dunes, American Beach properties, as well as ensuring the community’s residents are treated like the rest of Nassau.

“Until American beach is treated as other communities in unincorporated Nassau

County, we will continue our efforts to be treated equitably, as long as it takes,”

Dawkins said.

The group pointed to the lack of beach driving access points in other residential

areas of unincorporated Nassau County aside from the one at Lewis Street, as

well as the decision the county made to end beach driving on several beaches

in 1989. The nonprofit’s representatives said residents of the small, now nationally

historic, coastal community were excluded from the conversation of where to end

beach driving more than 35 years ago.

“After 35 years of no response from the county, I will give the county some credit for coming to the table, and I do think that they bargained in good faith. I will

say that I believe (County Manager) Taco Pope bargained in good faith, and

(County Attorney) Denise May bargained in good faith,” Dawkins said.

In July, Nassau County introduced changes to beach recreation regulations, which also included a Protected Species Management Plan, all approved at the

Aug. 11 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Dawkins said previously the group had filed for a preliminary injunction to stop Nassau County from allowing beach driving on American Beach prior to the

changes.

“Despite presenting photos of hatchlings crushed by vehicles, our request was

denied by District Judge Timothy Corrigan on June 26, who instead recommended mediation,” a response letter from the group stated.

Mediation was held Aug. 15. The county and the group signed the settlement agreement Sept. 17.

“Nassau County has been continually working to support environmental steward-

ship while maintaining the rights of Nassau County residents to park on the beach,”

Pope said in a statemet to the News-Leader. “The litigation was an unfortunate and unnecessary expense to the taxpayers, which resulted in the implementation of efforts already in process.

Notwithstanding, Nassau County is now in a stronger position to defend the rights of its citizens to park on those areas of the beach permissible by state law if a

similar suit is brought in the future.”

Pope told the News-Leader, prior to the county knowing about potential litigation, staff was working with the State of Florida to determine if relocating the vehicular access point from Lewis Street to Burney Park was “permissible.”

“In parallel, Nassau County was working with FEMA to determine if funding was available to support the relocation project,” Pope said. “As part of that due dili-

gence, Nassau County created engineered plans and a permit application to the

state. However, if the relocation of the vehicular access point is not allowable by

state/federal regulation or is not cost feasible, there is no obligation on the taxpayers of Nassau County to relocate the vehicular access point.”

He said there is no established timeline at this point to move the access point but

the “signage demarcating the speed limit and location of the Conservation Zone

have been installed per the agreement.”

Pam McCorkle Buncum, treasurer of Save Historic American Beach, was the

sole descending vote.

“My contention was that we needed to make sure that we got as much as we could in writing, and I wanted more,” she said. “I do agree that we have made progress. Some progress is always good.”

She said there are several outlying factors not included in the settlement that could impact the agreement. She said, “I just think there is so much more the county could have done if they wanted to be serious about conservation and preserving marine life. They missed a golden opportunity to do the right thing.”

“We weren’t giving them a blanket yes. They should know that we are going to

continue to follow and monitor what they are going to do to assess it on a yearly basis, and some of us are going to continue to follow up in other ways to put an end to beach driving when it comes to residential areas on Amelia Island,” McCorkle Buncum said.

achandler@fbnewsleader.com

MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

This Mediated Settlement Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered by and

between Save Historic American Beach Inc. ("Plaintiff" or "SHAB") and Defendant,

Nassau County, Florida ("Defendant" or "County") (individually a "Party" and

collectively the "Parties").

WHEREAS, Nassau County is a political subdivision of the State of Florida

with a physical address of 96135 Nassau Pl., Suite 1, Yulee, FL 32097.

WHEREAS, Save Historic American Beach Inc. is a Florida not for profit

corporation with a principal address and mailing address of 1830 Lewis Street,

Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.

WHEREAS, the Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Defendant in the United

States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, in the

above referenced case, seeking relief under the Endangered Species Act arising out of the alleged take of protected sea turtles on historic American Beach in Nassau County, Florida.

WHEREAS, after a hearing on Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction in

which the Court denied the Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction, the Parties agreed to mediate the case.

WHEREAS, on August 11, 2025, the County approved a Resolution adopting

the Nassau County Beaches Protected Species Management Plan and amendments to Chapter 23 ½ of the Nassau County Code to provide for additional protections for sea turtles.

WHEREAS, the Parties and their respective counsel voluntarily participated

in mediation on August 15, 2025, pursuant to a mediation agreement before

mediator Bram Cantor.

WHEREAS, the Parties acknowledge and agree that they are voluntarily

entering into this Agreement to avoid the cost and expense of litigation, and to

resolve their disputes in this case.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree

as follows:

1. Recitals. The Parties agree that the above recitals are true and correct

and are incorporated herein by reference as part of this Agreement.

2. Lewis Street Beach Vehicular Access Potential Relocation. The County shall seek all appropriate permits as expeditiously as possible to move the

Lewis Street beach vehicular access point from Lewis Street to Burney Park, and if

and when the Lewis Street access point is moved to Burney Park pursuant to all

appropriate permits, the Lewis Street access point will be closed to vehicular access.

3. Signage at Southern Boundary. The County will move the "no motor

vehicles" sign at the southern boundary of the south end of beach access in strict

compliance with the text of Chapter 89-445, Laws of Florida, (Senate Bill 1577), to:

The southerly end of Amelia Island from the Nassau

Sound side to the developed resort area parcel on the

Atlantic Ocean side.

This also is in strict compliance with the Prohibited Beach Driving Areas map

attached hereto as Attachment A dated 6/11/2025 which Nassau County "prepared using Laws of Florida Chapter 89-445 (Senate Bill 1577) filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on June 28, 1989, Nassau County Ordinance 89-23 and the Final Judgement for Cases 90-397-CA/90-529-CA done and ordered on April 28, 1992."

4. Speed Limit Signs. The County shall install and maintain four (4)

additional 10 mph speed limit signs on American Beach.

5. Conservation Zone Signs. The County shall install and maintain

"Conservation Zone Do Not Enter" signs approximately every 60 feet (one at each

conservation zone demarcation post) along American Beach. The County will

ensure that each sign is placed at a minimum and approximately 10 feet from the

permanent line of native vegetation, as determined by the County's designee, consistent with the Nassau County Beaches Protected Species Management Plan in all areas within the County's jurisdiction where beach driving is permitted.

6. Adjustment of Conservation Zone. The County shall at least annually

review the permanent line of vegetation and adjust the conservation zone, if

necessary, by May 1 consistent with the Nassau County Beaches Protected Species Management Plan.

7. Security Contractor Requirements. The County shall draft and send

instructions to its Security Contractor, which, at a minimum, shall address the

following subjects and ensure Security Contractor's strict compliance with same:

a. Security Contractor will strictly enforce prohibitions on access to,

use of, or placement of personal property in, the established

conservation zone;

b. Security Contractor will strictly enforce posted speed limits in

conjunction with law enforcement agencies; and

c. Security Contractor logs will be accurately kept, including the

name and all other information required by County Ordinance,

and provided to County staff on a monthly basis.

8. Coordination with Nassau County Sheriff. The County shall coordinate with the Nassau County Sheriff to ensure compliance with the County's ordinances and the provisions of section 7, above.

9. Removal of Prohibited Personal Property. The County shall ensure that prohibited personal property, as defined by Nassau County Ordinance 23 ½-

25(b), on American Beach will be removed on a daily basis.

10. Annual Workshops. The County shall hold, at a minimum, one (1) annual public education workshop prior to the start of the turtle nesting season on May 1 regarding turtle protections which shall be open to the public.

11. Ordinance Revision. The County shall add the words "American Beach" to Ordinance 23½-20(c).

12. Dismissal. Within three (3) business days of execution of this Agreement by all parties, SHAB shall file a notice of voluntary dismissal of the above captioned suit with prejudice as to SHAB, and each of its board members, individually, with all Parties to bear their own attorney's fees and costs.

13. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.

14. Severability. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall deem that any

portion or subject matter of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, the

remaining portions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

15. Acknowledgement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that they have

read and understand all terms and conditions set forth herein and have executed

this Agreement voluntarily, with full knowledge of its significance and after

consultation with legal counsel.

16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement

between the Parties. Any current or prior understandings, statements,

representations, and agreements, oral or written, if not specifically expressed in this Agreement, are void, have no effect and should not be relied upon. The Parties expressly acknowledge that they have not relied upon such items, have conducted their own due diligence, and expressly waive any claims arising out of any prior or oral understandings, statements, representations, or agreements which are not set forth in this Agreement. The waiver by each Party hereto of any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute or operate as a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any other provision hereof, nor shall any failure to enforce any provision hereof operate as a waiver at such time or at any future time of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

17. Choice of Law. This Agreement is made and entered into in the State of Florida and will in all respects be interpreted, enforced, and governed under federal law and the laws of Florida.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts and via electronic or facsimile signatures, each of which shall be deemed originals.

19. Representation by Counsel. Each of the Parties to this Agreement has been represented by counsel of its own choosing in connection with the negotiation

and preparation of this Agreement, has been fully informed by its counsel as to the meaning and legal significance of this Agreement and, based upon such

representation and advice, knowingly and voluntarily agrees to be bound by the

terms of this Agreement. To the extent any ambiguity exists in the interpretation of this Agreement, it is the intent of the Parties that neither shall be construed to be the drafter of the Agreement.

20. Authority to Enter Agreement. The Parties represent and warrant that each has the power, authority and legal right to enter into and perform the obligations set forth in this Agreement, and the execution and delivery and performance hereof by the Parties has been duly authorized by the governing authority of each of the Parties.

21. Binding Effect of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit

of and shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, representatives, and

beneficiaries of the Parties, and each of them.

22. Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may only be amended or modified, in whole or in part, at any time, through a written instrument that sets

forth such changes and which is signed by all the Parties.

23. Waiver. Any failure by a Party to exercise any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that right, power, or privilege

under this Agreement.

24. Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied,

is intended to confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement,

on any person other than the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to

relieve or discharge the obligation of any third person to any Party nor shall any

provision of this Agreement be interpreted to give any third person any right of

subrogation or action over or against the Parties.

25 . Agency. No Party shall be deemed to be an agent of any other Party nor

shall represent that it has the authority to bind any other Party.

26. Computation of Time. In computing any time period under this Agreement, any reference to days shall mean calendar days, unless business days are specifically referenced. In computing any period of time under this Agreement,

exclude the day of the event that triggers the computation of the period of time. If

the last day of a period of time is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the period of

time shall run until the end of the next calendar day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

27. Police Powers. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of

any Party's police powers.

28. Sovereign Immunity. The County expressly retains all rights, benefits,

and immunities of sovereign immunity pursuant to section 768.28, Florida Statutes. Notwithstanding anything outlined in any section, article, or paragraph of this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed as a waiver of sovereign immunity or limits of liability, which may have been adopted by the Florida Legislature or may be adopted by the Florida Legislature, and the cap on the amount and liability of the County for damages, attorney fees, and costs, regardless of the number or nature of claims in tort, equity, or contract, shall not exceed the dollar amount set by the Florida Legislature for tort. Nothing in this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any third party to allow any claim against the County, which would otherwise be barred under the doctrine of sovereign immunity or operation of law. The provisions contained herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

29. Fiscal Year. The obligations of the County to expend funds under this

Agreement are limited to the availability of funds appropriated in a current fiscal

period, and continuation of the expenditure of funds under this Agreement into a

subsequent fiscal period, regardless of the Agreement term, and are subject to

appropriation and the availability of funds in accordance with Florida law.

30. Governmental and Property Owner Approvals. All obligations of the

County under this Agreement are subject to all necessary governmental approvals,

including without limitation, permits from the applicable federal, state, and county agencies and any consent from affected private property owners to the extent that the scope of a project requires work to be performed on private property.

31. Notice. All notices, amendments, requests, consents and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (as elected by the Party giving such notice) hand delivered by prepaid express overnight courier or messenger service, or mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid), return receipt requested, to the following addresses or to such other addresses)a s a Party may designate by prior written notice in accordance with this provision to the other Party:

NASSAU COUNTY:

Attn: County Attorney

96135 Nassau Place, Suite 6

Yulee, Fl. 32097

SHAB:

Mark C. Dawkins, Chair

Save Historic American Beach Inc.

1830 Lewis Street Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

32. Order of Execution. This Agreement shall be executed by SHAB first

and then presented to the County. The County will then present the Agreement to

the Board of County Commissioners of Nassau County for a vote, and subsequent

execution by the County if approved.

33. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the date it is

executed by all the Parties. The last date of execution by all the Parties shall be

known as the "Effective Date" of this Agreement.

Letter from SHAB, Published in the Fernandina Beach News Leader

To protect and preserve

As chair of Save Historic American Beach Inc., I enjoyed reading the News-

Leader’s Sept. 3 (letter) titled “Protecting beaches means stop driving on sand.”

My only question is, where was the author the past 30 years while the American Beach community repeatedly asked Nassau County and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to end beach driving at American Beach?

Save Historic American Beach Inc. is a nonprofit organization representing residents, property owners and other stakeholders who are committed to pro-

tecting the area’s endangered wildlife and preserving the natural beauty and fragile ecology of Historic American Beach.

Our goals are to:

• Protect threatened sea turtles whose nesting habitat is being damaged;

• Preserve the dunes that protect our community and our wildlife;

• Make Historic American Beach safe to run, walk, fish, swim and recreate with-

out fear of vehicle traffic;

• Restore the area’s natural beauty for all Nassau County residents and tourists

to enjoy.

For more than 30 years, the American Beach community has appealed to Nassau

County to end beach parking and driving on American Beach, just as it is prohibited on almost all residential beaches across the county including for our neighbors Summer Beach and Amelia Island Resort.

We see the significant damage beach driving causes to the beach and to the

dunes, and we have numerous photos of dead sea turtle hatchlings that were run

over by motor vehicles in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Still, the County continues to ignore our pleas.

Now that the BOCC is enforcing the prohibited beach driving area map Nassau County filed with the Office of the Secretary of the State on June 28, 1989,

beach driving has reopened for about 1.5 miles on the south end of Amelia Island

along the Atlantic Ocean.

The American Beach community sympathizes with the communities of Amelia

Seaside Retreat, The Residence and The Sanctuary who now have beach driving

behind their homes, and we hope these communities will join and work with us

and the Sandpiper Loop community to get the BOCC to finally end beach driving

in all residential areas of unincorporated Nassau County to protect endangered sea turtles and the coastal dune system.

Save Historic American Beach does not want to “privatize” or limit access to

the beach, and we invite everyone to visit American Beach and the American Beach Museum. We encourage visitors to learn about the area’s important history as a beach resort founded during segregation by A.L. Lewis in 1935 so African Americans could enjoy “recreation and relaxation without humiliation.”

We merely ask that visitors use the 250 parking spaces at Burney Park and Evans

Rendezvous that provide easy walking access to the beach, just as we walk to the

beach as residents of the community. We want all citizens of and visitors to Nassau County to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Amelia Island including American Beach, and to do so safely without the threat of being run over by vehicles.

It would be great if the BOCC ends beach driving and redirects the $600,000

it spends annually for security and to staff the access points at Peters Point, Scott

Road and Lewis Street at American Beach to more pressing community needs.

Perhaps the $600,000 could help preserve free parking in downtown Fernandina

Beach!

Mark Dawkins

Chair, Save Historic American

Beach Inc.

Fernandina Beach

Letter published in the Fernandina Beach News Leader

On Aug. 11, the County Commissioners met for their regular bimonthly meeting. Without prior notice and buried in the minutes, they voted to move the “No Driving Beyond This Point” sign from the state park to the South Beach Access Trail, about a mile and a half north. This decision opened to vehicles some of the island’s most pristine, wildlife-rich shoreline — an area that had been protected for 21 years.

This stretch of beach is already too narrow. At high tide, vehicles have no choice but to cross dunes and sea oats, destroying fragile plants that anchor the sand. Despite a costly renourishment project just four years ago — funded in large part by the very homeowners now exposed to traffic — the ecosystem is again at risk.

So why should the community care?

Some residents argue that past development was more harmful, that bulldoz-

ing dunes to build condos was worse than driving on the beach. Others claim

wealthy owners are trying to limit access for ordinary people or ask simply, “Why

take away the fun?”

But driving on a barrier island is not just another form of recreation. It has per-

manent consequences. Barrier islands are living, shifting systems — the first line of defense against hurricanes and storms.

When vehicles compact the sand, dunes weaken, leaving both wildlife and homes

more vulnerable. Tire tracks carve up nesting sites for endangered sea turtles

and shorebirds. Hatchlings, already facing steep odds of survival, often die

trapped in deep ruts. These are not inconveniences; they are irreversible harms.

Yes, past development decisions damaged the island. But repeating mistakes is no solution. If anything, we should be wiser than those who bulldozed dunes

decades ago. Protecting what remains is not about nostalgia — it is about learning from history.

Ending beach driving does not mean ending beach access. Public lots and

walkovers exist and can be expanded. Everyone still has the right to enjoy the

sand, surf, and sunsets. The difference is whether we choose to enjoy them responsibly, without turning fragile shoreline into a roadway.

This issue is not “locals versus outsiders.” It is not about politics, wealth or property lines. The question is simpler: Do we want to leave a healthy beach for

future generations, or sacrifice it for the temporary thrill of driving across the

sand? Once damaged, a barrier island cannot easily be restored.

The true joy of the beach — watching children run free, seeing a turtle nest hatch, feeling the dunes shift with the wind — does not come from behind the wheel of a truck. It comes from preserving a natural treasure that belongs to everyone.

Protecting our beaches is not exclusion. It is common sense. A barrier island is too fragile to serve as a highway. Ending beach driving is not punishment— it is a promise to the future.

Charlene Spiceland

Amelia Island