6/10/20 @ 3:45 p.m.

As many of you are aware, the County beach front parks, Peters Point, Burney Park and Scott Road, are three of the most heavily used beach front parks on the island. Over the past few months, Facilities and Parks Staff have been busy doing improvements at all three locations.

Peters Point

• Parking lot re-striped
• Bathrooms painted and floors refinished with epoxy coating for extended durability

Scott Road

• Parking lot re-striped

Burney Park

• New turtle friendly lighting added to sidewalk areas
• Parking lot re-striped
• Bathrooms painted and floors refinished with epoxy coating
• Wooden boardwalk decking and railing replaced with composite decking, a durable material that is weather and mold resistant and requires very little maintenance
• Aluminum grab rails to be installed to boardwalk within the next few weeks
• Turtle friendly parking lot lights currently being installed

We trust that our residents and visitors are excited about these improvements and that their beach experience has been enhanced because of them. We also appreciate all the hard work from our Facilities and Parks employees. While it's nice to be outside during the day and working close to the beach, the heat definitely makes it more challenging. These employees do their work with pride and without complaints. They are truly a great team!

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

Join us on Monday, June 8th at 5pm for a presentation by Dr. David Barth regarding the Needs Assessment Phase of the Recreation Master Plan.

The results being presented were compiled from a series of public outreach events, roundtable discussions, surveys, and interviews with elected officials and key County staff, in additional to a review of current facilities and services. The presentation will provide insight into Dr. Barth's efforts to create a world-class parks and recreation master plan for the citizens of Nassau County.

The meeting is open to the public with limited seating. The meeting can also be viewed live at https://nassauclerk.com/watch-meetings.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Workshop for Recreation Master Plan
 
Nassau County, Florida, June 1, 2020- On January 2, 2020, Nassau County announced the kick-off of a long-range parks, recreation, and open space master plan for the entire County, with the goal of the plan being complete in the fall of 2002.
 
The County secured the services of the parks planning firm Barth Associates, LLC, to evaluate the existing parks and recreation system; conduct a County-wide needs and priorities assessment; develop a long-range parks and recreation vision; and work with the County to develop a fiscally sustainable implementation strategy for capital improvements, operations, and maintenance.
 
The recently-completed Needs Assessment phase of the project incorporated a number of public involvement forums to make sure that the planning process was citizen-driven, and that every resident had an opportunity to participate.  These included:     

• Two public outreach events, one in eastern Nassau County and one in western Nassau County. The events were interactive and open to all residents, groups and corporate entities to attend.
• A statistically-representative survey of residents’ needs and priorities. To ensure the integrity and validity of the data collection process, ETC Institute, an independent research firm, conducted the survey and complied the data for utilization in the plan creation process. 
• An on-line survey to provide opportunities for all residents to participate in the survey.
• A working session with a diverse group of individuals representing organizations across a wide spectrum of focus and backgrounds. This included representatives from education, social services, organized athletics, outdoor enthusiasts, the arts community, park operations, public & mental health, environmental stewards, and many others.
• A series of roundtable discussions with individuals and organizations who share common interests around particular aspects of recreation, i.e. cyclists, conservation, youth athletics, etc.
• One-on-one interviews with elected officials and key County staff members including budget and operations staff.

 
The information received from these events, meetings and surveys – along with park visits and evaluations, a level-of-service analysis, and review of existing reports – provided the data necessary for Barth Associates to project the parks and recreation needs and priorities of County residents.    This approach ensures the parks, recreation, and open space master plan is truly representative of all the citizens of Nassau County and not just a select few.
 
On Monday, June 8, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., Dr. David Barth will present the findings from the Existing Conditions and Needs Assessment phase of the project to the Board of County Commissioners. The Workshop Meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. The meeting is open to the public with limited seating, however residents can also participate remotely by watching the meeting live at www.nassauclerk.com/watch-meetings and submitting comments to comments@nassaucountyfl.com or calling (904) 530-6009 and leaving a message. Residents can also use these two methods to request a call during the meeting.
 
We encourage all Nassau County residents and organizations to participate in the meeting to hear Dr. Barth’s presentation to the Board regarding his team’s effort to create a world-class parks and recreation system master plan for the citizens of Nassau County.
**********************************************************************************
If you have any questions, please contact the County’s Planning Department at (904) 530-6300.
 
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Organized Youth Sports
 
Nassau County, Florida, May 29, 2020 – On Friday, May 22, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order No. 20-131, to allow for the return of organized youth sports under Phase 1: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery.
 
County Officials held a telephonic meeting with Recreation Commission yesterday. The group discussed guidelines suggested by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the risk of disease transmission among participants in youth sports programs. Those guidelines can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html.
 
It was determined that the County will open their facilities for the leagues to use with the understanding that they would be responsible for ensuring that CDC guidelines are followed. Some leagues expressed concerns, however others indicated that they felt they could comply.  The Recreation Commission is compiling a list of leagues that would like to resume and the location/facility they will be operating out of.

If you have any questions, please contact Facilities Maintenance at (904) 530-6120.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
 
Recreation Commission Meeting to Discuss Reintroduction of Organized Youth Sports
 
Nassau County, Florida, May 27, 2020 – At today’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting, County Manager, Mike Mullin, provided an update to the Board members regarding Executive Order No. 20-131, issued by Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday, May 22, 2020, which now allows organized youth sports under Phase 1: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery.  Mr. Mullin indicated that organized youth sports should, in his opinion, “re-start” and the Board concurred.
 
A Special Meeting of the Nassau County Recreation Commission has been scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2020, at 5:30 p.m., in order for the County Manager and Assistant County Manager to discuss “re-starting” organized youth sports at County facilities while maintaining consistency with the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations.  
 
The meeting will be held remotely via phone conference, therefore there is no meeting location to share. Individuals wishing to submit comments for the meeting should email them to parkcomments@nassaucountyfl.com by 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, or call (904) 530-6120. If you would like a phone call during the meeting, please send an email or call the number above and provide your name and phone number.
 
A summary from the meeting will be issued as soon as possible.
 
**********************************************************************************
Should you have any questions, please contact Parks & Recreation directly at (904) 530-6120.

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
County to Consider Purchase of Property in Kings Ferry for Future Recreation
 
Nassau County, Florida, April 13, 2020 - At tonight’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Board approved entering into a purchase and sales agreement giving the County a 120-day period to consider purchasing a 36-acre property located on the St. Marys River near the Kings Ferry community. The property is accessed from Lessie Road and will be used as a public park providing additional access to the St. Marys River.  
 
It’s important to note that if the BOCC were to execute the purchase of the property, no ad-valorem revenues would be used. The purchase would be 100% funded from Recreational Impact Fees which were collected from developers/builders when issuing residential building permits for new homes. In accordance with Florida Statutes, these funds must be used on recreation and cannot be used for any other purpose.
 
The County’s Comprehensive Plan, Recreation and Open Space Element, encourages acquisition of property to meet the future recreational needs of the residents. The Comprehensive Plan defines regional parks as a site with 30+ acres, containing water-based recreation opportunities such as boating and fishing.
 
The 36-acre site has 627 feet of frontage along the St. Marys River. There is an existing 60-foot dock which was constructed in 2018, providing deep water access. The property has mature hard-wood trees and native vegetation making it very aesthetically pleasing. The property also has historical significance as it once contained the “little mill” owned by Jackson and William Mizell in 1870, as well as the docking facilities for ships that carried finished products around the world.
 
The Board discussed the acquisition of the property at the February 19, 2020 meeting and authorized County staff to negotiate with the property owner, Allison Properties, Inc. Negotiations were held on March 5, 2020. According to an appraisal performed by Colliers International, Inc., the property has an As-Is Market Value of $970,000. The property owner, Allison Lands Inc., has agreed to a less than market value sales price of $875,000.
 
*********************************************************************************************************
If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010.

3/27/20 @ 5:30 p.m. - Yesterday, we conducted a Question and Answer session with County Attorney/County Manager, Mike Mullin. The questions used consisted of frequently asked questions we've had from residents  since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Topics discussed included: beach closures; outdoor recreation; lodging establishments; monitoring of individuals arriving to the County from the New York Tri-State area; and simulated gaming establishments

We hope that you find this information useful.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Discussion Regarding Beaches in the County
 
Nassau County, Florida, March 27, 2020 –On Monday, March 30, 2020, a discussion will be held regarding the beaches within the City and the unincorporated areas of the county. Those participating will be: County Manager/County Attorney, Mike Mullin; Assistant County Manager, Taco Pope; Danny Leeper, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners; City Manager, Dale Martin; City Commissioner, Dr. Chip Ross; Sheriff Bill Leeper; Emergency Management Director, Greg Foster; and Health Director, Dr. Eugenia Ngo-Seidel.

As many of you know, the beaches were closed on Saturday, March 21, 2020, after portions of the beaches became overcrowded and concerns were expressed about the threat to public health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We realize that this is a huge inconvenience to the public and we are exploring options to provide some limited access. During Monday’s discussion, the members will share thoughts from both the medical and enforcement aspect of how we can systematically address the beach including thoughts of amending current closure orders. The discussion topics will be provided to the City and County for their separate considerations.
 
We appreciate your patience as we work through this unprecedented event.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Valerie Feinberg, AICP
Interim Director, PEO Department
(904) 530-6300
vfeinberg@nassaucountyfl.com
 
COUNTY SEEKS CITIZEN INPUT ON RECREATION MASTER PLAN

Nassau County, Florida, March 26, 2020 - Nassau County is embarking on a long-range Recreation Master Plan for the entire county, with the goal of completion in Fall 2020. The plan will evaluate recreation needs in the community as we grow, identify existing and future opportunities, and make recommendations regarding operations and maintenance into the future.

As part of the planning process, the County will be doing a variety of public outreach, including a statistically valid survey, one on one meetings with Commissioners and other officials, and stakeholder meetings with various groups related to recreation in Nassau County.

Feedback from you, the residents of Nassau County and others who use our recreation facilities is of prime importance.  Therefore, we invite you to participate in taking an online survey that will facilitate county staff in including the preferences of citizens in the county’s Recreation Master Plan.

Please follow this link to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NassauParks
It is available beginning today until April 30, 2020.

Your input is vital to improving the quality of life in Nassau County
More information is available at: www.nassaucountyfl.com/recplan.
 
The Nassau County Planning and Economic Opportunity Department is charged with leading long-range and current planning for the community, with a focus on technical planning, implementation and management of the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan, development and site plan review, and assistance to citizens, the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager and other staff, advisory boards, government agencies, and the private sector regarding growth and development in Nassau County. For more information on our Plan, Code, or current initiatives, visit www.nassaucountyfl.com/planning, call (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.
 


 

3/21/20 @ 12:45 p.m. - Executive Order No. 1 has been issued temporarily restricting access to some beach areas and beach activities.

Beach Driving
Effective as of 11:00 a.m. today, no additional vehicular traffic shall access any beach areas in the unincorporated areas of Nassau County. Vehicles currently on the beach may remain in place until 5:00 p.m. today. Once a vehicle exits the beach, re-entry is not allowed. Beach access points where driving is normally allowed will have barriers in place and will be monitored by the Sheriff's Office.

Beach Camping
Effective today at 5:00 p.m., no camping or sleeping on the unincorporated beaches will be allowed. This includes tents, blankets, towels or any similar item used for camping.

Beach use
Individuals are allowed on the beach, subject to restrictions, and shall adhere to CDC guidelines to limit gathering to ten (10) people or less in a group. The Sheriff's Office shall have the authority to issue orders to beach users violating the provisions of this order, including order to remove themselves from the beach. Failure to remove themselves will constitute a trespass and is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Beach Parking Lots/Accesses
Currently, beach accesses/parking lots are fully open. The County Manager and Emergency Management shall have the authority to issue further restrictions as to the beach, including use of beach parking areas. Signage will be utilized, when possible, to notify users of the restrictions.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office