Varn Park will be closed beginning March 27 for about three months as Flagler County undertakes two emergency sand operations – the first in Painters Hill and Beverly Beach, and the second north through the park into the Hammock Dunes Homeowners Association property.
“We will be closing Varn Park for the contractor to access the beach and set up his operation there,” said County Engineer Faith Alkhatib. “There will be a steady stream of dump trucks and heavy equipment in the park, and we need to keep the job site as safe as possible.”
Residents will not be able to access the beach from Varn Park while these two projects are ongoing.
“Those who live in Painter’s Hill should know that the dune restoration project will extend from the first house south of Varn Park through the Town of Beverly Beach,” Alkhatib said. “We want the residents to know that we will only be placing this emergency sand in front of houses – not in front of undeveloped lots unless it fills a gap in between two adjacent houses and is not in front of seawalls.”
Alkhatib noted that this project is for emergency sand only, and that the Engineering Department is working on a larger dune and beach restoration project that will be designed and permitted to rebuild the beach and dune in the future.
“We know our residents and visitors love to access the beach from Varn Park, and we apologize for the inconvenience,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said. “This is critical work being done for the health and welfare of all of our residents in Flagler County.”
don miller says
locked out of the park so the elite can get their dunes rebuilt and then lock you off their rebuilt beach and we get our sliver of beach access back.. it never stops
Pogo says
@dm
Sounds like you’re still sore about your wife telling you she won’t clean the outhouse while you’re sitting in it.
Duncan says
Nonsensical. You enjoy the beach, but you don’t want beach maintenance to inconvenience you. Would you rather wade in the tide as the beach erodes to sea level?
Beach refurbishment is not just for those “elite” that pay an enormous amount of property tax each year, and help keep the county funded.
Roy Mattson says
I just pray that is not that Sugar white sand that is killing the beach for Sandflea, Goast Shrimp, sand pipers food.
This will also kill other wildlife that live on beach.
Cindy Small says
Where is the sand coming from? Currently the trucks are coming onto A1A from Rt 206 in St Johns County. Will they be using a different route?
Sixteen Year Resident says
It is good news that the dunes will be reinforced this summer before (hopefully) the next hurricane hits. However, I don’t understand the logic of not reinforcing the dunes in front of empty lots. If there are gaps in the areas where the dunes were not reinforced the ocean water will just flow though and then wash up and down the entire dune. Why bother doing a job only halfway? The Corp of Engineers was not willing to undertake the reinforcement project in Flagler Beach before easements were obtained from all lot owners. Also Flagler County was not ready to reinforce the dunes back in 2017 or 2018 until it had easements from all owners of property by the dunes – why? It was becasue it is somewhat useless to reinforce the dunes if there are gaps left where the dunes were not reinforced.
Is Flagler just wasting money?
Brian says
Yes.
Mr. Neptune says
There will be 4 MAJOR Hurricanes this coming season. Two storms will be Cat 5 or higher. Makes NO difference how much sand you bring in, because its all going to be washed back out again. Say GOODBYE to Flagler Beach and A1A North and South.