MEDIA INFO: Britney Guertin
Hayworth Public Relations
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britney@hayworthpr.com

Nassau County, Florida, Hosting Open Houses to Gather Community Input
Public encouraged to attend one of the Beach Park Harmonization project presentations
 
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (July 12, 2022) – The Amelia Island Beach Park Harmonization team – under the direction of The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and  The Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau (AICVB) – is hosting two open house events to gather public input for its Beach Park Harmonization project on Tuesday, July 19. The community open house evening will showcase the preliminary conceptual plans for the seven beach parks within the project scope: North Beach Park, Main Beach Park, Seaside Beach Park, Peters Point Beach Park Beach Park, Scott Road Beach Access, Burney Beach Park, and South Road Beach Access.

The community is invited to attend from 6-8 p.m. at the Atlantic Recreation Center (2500 Atlantic Avenue) and The American Beach community is invited to attend the presentation of the Burney Beach Park preliminary plan from 3-4 p.m. at the American Beach Community Center (1600 Julia Street). All residents are welcome to stop by either of the meetings during the designated timeframes where there will be team members on hand to answer any questions related to the proposed park designs.

The events do not include a formal presentation but rather, will exhibit all park plans on large boards with the ability to leave comments verbally or in written form. For those unable to attend, the community survey has been extended to July 31 and is available to complete online at MemoriesMaking.com.

In partnership with the Nassau County BOCC and AICVB are The City of Fernandina Beach and an expert consultant, EDSA. A planning and urban design firm with more than 60 years of experience, EDSA is leading the Beach Park Harmonization Project. Following the first community open house and release of the survey in May, the EDSA team has reviewed participant’s responses and met with key stakeholders in the City of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County for feedback on the preliminary designs.

The Beach Park Harmonization Project seeks to harmonize and enhance the visitor experience at Amelia Island’s seven main beach parks. Building on previous studies and existing guidelines, the Beach Harmonization Project aims to modernize and better equip these parks to serve local communities as well as visitors.

To learn more and complete the survey, visit, MemoriesMaking.com. 

6/30/22 @ 10:40 a.m. - At the Monday, June 27, 2022 meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 2022-130 proclaiming the week of July 1 - July 7, 2022, as Clean Beaches Week in Nassau County, Florida. Clean Beaches Week is recognized annually across the nation to spread awareness regarding the effects of pollution on marine life, oceans and coastal landscape. Public Works Director, Doug Podiak, and Convention & Visitor's Bureau Executive Director, Gil Langley, were in attendance to accept the Resolution.

Nassau County beaches have long been a source of beauty and enjoyment, drawing thousands of visitors per year. The Board strives to ensure that Nassau County beaches remain pristine. By collection of the Tourist Development Tax by lodging establishments on Amelia Island, the County is able to fund 100% of beach cleaning efforts. These efforts including removal of trash and debris from both City and County beaches, emptying of all trashcans along the beach, removal of trash and debris from all beach front parks, and cleaning of all beach front park restrooms. In 2021, the beach contractor removed approximately 100 tons of trash and debris from City and County beaches, beach access areas, and parking lots.

The Amelia Island Convention and Visitor's Bureau works tirelessly to ensure that visitors understand the importance of keeping our beaches clean by providing printed materials for lodging establishments and supplying signage in beach front parks encouraging residents and visitors to "leave no trace".

By caring for the beach and keeping it clean, the Board of County Commissioners is investing in preservation of the environment and wildlife by ensuring that harmful materials do not end up in the ocean or destroy beach habitats. This week, residents and visitors are encouraged to make a positive impact by cleaning up trash and debris that have been left behind and encouraging others to do the same.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer 

6/17/22 @ 1:00 p.m. - Please be advised that there will be limited parking at the Burney Road Beach Access on Saturday, June 18, 2022. 

This is due to the Melanin Parks-Remember the Ancestors Event taking place at American Beach in recognition of the Juneteenth holiday. The event includes a 5K race in the morning which will require road closures and detours between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to approximately 9:30 a.m. Signs and Sheriff's Deputies will be in the area to assist motorists during this time. 

Following the 5K, there is also an event taking place on private property that includes live music and vendors. The parking lot is being used to accommodate event attendees between the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. As shown in the attached aerial map, the southwest corner of the parking lot will be dedicated solely to event parking, as well as the northeast portion of lot closest to the ocean. The southeast corner of the lot will remain open to the public and includes handi-capped accessible parking and access to the restrooms and beach walkover. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

5/23/22 @ 12:00 p.m.

The Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau has released two community surveys related to 1) beach park harmonization; and 2) tourism and destination development initiatives. 

Nassau County beaches are enjoyed by ALL residents. As such, it is important that ALL residents respond to these surveys to make their voices heard during the planning process. 

The surveys will remain open through June 30th. 

Initiative #1: Beach Park Harmonization Project

The CUVB seeks to harmonize and enhance the visitor's experience at Amelia Island's seven main beach parks: North Beach, Main Beach, Seaside Park, Peters Point, Burney Park, Scott Road Beach Access, and the Southend Beach Access. Building on previous studies and existing guidelines, the Beach Harmonization Project aims to modernize and better equip these parks to better serve the local community, as well as visitors to the area. 

A presentation was made Katie Poppel of the firm EDSA at the May 18, 2022 Board of County Commissioners meeting. Ms. Poppel stated, "The objective of this is the idea of harmonization. How do these 7 parks fit together and create that cohesive space? A space where a resident or visitor can visit any park and find a set of "pedestrian comfort" enhancements including seating, waste receptacles, pavilions, beach access". The May 18th presentation can be found here with the presentation listed under "Tab C". 

Initiative #2: The "Nassau Next" Tourism and Destination Development Project

This project will create a comprehensive roadmap for the future of Nassau County and its tourism economy. Positioning new areas of the county will help capture a greater share of tourism spending while maintaining momentum on Amelia Island. This project will deliver a clear 10-year plan for creating jobs, expanding the economy, and improving quality of life for visitors and residents. 

Survey Link for Beach Park Harmonization Project

Survey Link for Tourism and Destination Development Project

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

3/4/22 @ 1:30 p.m. - The annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance will take place this weekend, March 4 - March 6, 2022. According to the Tourist Development Council, the 2021 event had a positive economic impact of $26.4 million to the local economy. This includes money spent on lodging, restaurants and retail businesses by our out-of-town guests. In addition, the Concours d'Elegance has raised more than $4 million for local charities, of which $3.75 million has been donated to Community Hospice and Palliative Care. Other charities that benefit from this event include Shop with Cops for the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and the City of Fernandina Beach Police Department, and Spina Bifida of Jacksonville.

Each year, the event organizers request use of Peters Point, Scott Road and Burney Park for parking and other activities related to the event. The Board of County Commissioners approved this year's request at the February 14, 2022 meeting. As a condition of their request, the accesses to drive onto the beach and all handicapped accessible spaces will remain open. There will also be some general parking spaces available on a first come, first served basis.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/30/21 @ 9:15 a.m. - Today is the final day to respond to the survey regarding beach access and beach parking. As previously announced, the County hired Walker Consultants to develop a comprehensive plan for beach access and parking on Amelia Island to ensure there is adequate access as the County continues to grow. If you have not completed the survey yet, please do so now. It will take about 5-7 minutes to complete. We realize your parking and beach access choices may change from day to day so we are asking that you tell us about your experiences on a typical day.

Upcoming Webinar

On Wednesday, October 6th at 6pm, a webinar will be held for the consultant to provide an overview and status update of the overall project. Below is the public link and access code for anyone wishing to participate.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://nassaucountyfl.zoom.us/j/83020114380?pwd=b2RZOUEvSHRQb2VGT283eTRDaVJMUT09
Passcode: 987321
Or One tap mobile :
    US: +13017158592,,83020114380#,,,,*987321#  or +13126266799,,83020114380#,,,,*987321#
Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
        US: +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 669 900 9128
Webinar ID: 830 2011 4380
Passcode: 987321
    International numbers available: https://nassaucountyfl.zoom.us/u/kbcb32Gw8o
 
If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, at (904) 530-6120 or via e-mail at jrobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/8/21 @ 3:40 p.m. 

As previously announced, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has commissioned Walker Associates, Inc. to develop a comprehensive plan for public beach access and parking on Amelia Island. The study area is inclusive of the beach access areas within the City of Fernandina Beach, the Florida state parks on Amelia Island, and the unincorporated beach access areas of Amelia Island.

As part of this study, we would like to hear from you, a valuable stakeholder in this process. We want to learn more about the parking and beach access patterns of current residents and visitors, with a goal toward understanding attitudes defined by parking and beach access related issues. As such, a survey has been created for you to tell us about your experiences related to accessing the beach.

​The total  time to complete the survey is about five to seven minutes. We realize that your parking and beach access choices may change from day to day, however we are asking that you tell us about your experiences on a typical day. 

Click here to access the survey.

If you have any questions about the study, please contact our Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, at (904) 530-6120 or via e-mail at jrobertson@nassaucountyfl.com. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/1/21 @ 3:00 p.m. -

On Saturday, August 21, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners hosted an Open House to discuss the results of an island-wide beach access and parking study conducted by Walker Consultants which included a current supply and demand analysis, followed with reasoned projections for the future. The information collected will be used for planning purposes to develop a comprehensive plan for public beach access and parking on Amelia Island.

About 75 residents were in attendance at the Open House, many of which provided feedback about their personal experiences in accessing the beach. Others expressed concerns about the collection of data for the supply/demand analysis and capacity projections over the study's planning horizon.

After considering the feedback from the public, County staff and representatives from Walker Consultants have decided to extend the time frame for the study to allow for additional observation and data collections. Within the next few weeks, a new detailed project schedule will be announced. This will include additional dates/times for data collection, citizen surveys, and future public meetings to keep the public involved throughout the process.

The Board of County Commissioners is committed to ensuring that residents and visitors have adequate access to the beach. Development of a comprehensive plan that provides long-term vision and planning will be instrumental in maintaining adequate public beach access in a rapidly growing community.

If you have any questions, please contact Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, at (904) 530-6120 or via email at jrobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/31/21 @ 2:30 p.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful is hosting a beach clean-up event on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 from 9:00 -11:00 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help remove litter from beach accesses, parking lots and shoreline following the Labor Day weekend.

Volunteers will be provided with gloves, trash grabbers and buckets, however volunteers are encouraged to sign up in advance so KNB can ensure they have the proper amount of supplies. Volunteers should wear comfortable shoes and bring their own water bottle, sunscreen and/or bug spray, if desired.

Following the cleanup event, volunteers will be asked to stay for an Appreciation Cookout hosted by Nassau County Fire Rescue's Local 3101 at Peters Point Beachfront Park. If you have any questions, please contact Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165 or via email at knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/12/21 @ 9:15 a.m. -

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has obtained Walker Consultants to conduct a study and to develop a comprehensive project approach toward developing a Strategic Master Plan for public beach access and parking on Amelia Island. The study area is inclusive of the beach access areas within the City of Fernandina Beach, the State parks on Amelia Island, and the unincorporated beach access areas of Amelia Island.

A 2045 planning horizon has been identified for long-term vision planning purposes. Master Plan data will be segmented in 5 year increments, starting with existing conditions and a current supply and demand analysis,followed with reasoned projections for planning purposes. This will include, at a minimum, supply, and demand projections, correlating solutions, and impacts to the operations and material cost.
Invitation

Nassau County and Walker Consultants cordially invite you to attend an Open House Public Meeting to discuss the current and future conditions for Amelia Island Beach Access and Parking. The Open House Public Meeting will be held at Nassau County’s Peters Point Beachfront Park location on Saturday, August 21st at 9:00 a.m. A covered tent and seating will be provided for your convenience and to ensure safe distancing practices are observed.

Walker Consultants will be on hand to provide a presentation of their project scope of services outlining their segmented approach toward studying various sub-regions of the Island to include areas labeled and bound by the following public beach access points:

• North Island (Cumberland Sound to PBA #9/Jasmine Street)
• North-Central Island (PBA #9/Jasmine St. to PBA #30/Simmons Rd)
• South-Central Island (PBA #30/Simmons Road to PBA #108/Burney Rd)
• South Island (PBA #108/Burney Rd to the Nassau Sound)

During the presentation, Walker’s team of Tampa-based representatives will discuss an array of industry
best practice opportunities demonstrating their experience working with other barrier island communities
throughout the southeast and State of Florida. After which, an opportunity for you to share your public
input toward implementable solutions will greatly benefit the preparation and direction of the team’s
findings and recommendations.

We look forward to seeing and learning from you at Peters Point Beachfront Park on the 21st!

If you have any questions, please contact Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, at (904) 530-6120 or via e-mail at jrobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.