Core group forming to establish c/o beach on Florida’s Treasure Coast

[Danee]

Work has begun to establish a clothing-optional section to the south of the dune crossover at Blind Creek Beach (South) on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce, FL, located in St. Lucie County along Florida’s Treasure Coast. Although casual nude use has a long history at this remote, primitive and pristine, county-owned beach, it is not formally recognized and its status is not currently secure. The nearest established clothing-optional beaches are respectively 120 and 140 miles (193 and 225 km) to the north within Canaveral National Seashore and 115 miles (185 km) to the south at Haulover Park in Miami-Dade County. Securing a section of Blind Creek Beach for clothing-optional use would be a boon for naturists living in or visiting this region.

The first planning meeting took place on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Sunnier Palms Nudist Park in Fort Pierce. There was a tremendous line-up of organizational support among the attendees, who included the Director of Public Relations for the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), the Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee of AANR-Florida (AANR’s Florida regional unit), the President of South Florida Free Beaches (SFFB) / Florida Naturist Association (which founded and continues to help manage Haulover’s successful, clothing-optional beach in Miami), the Founder / Executive Director of B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute (nonprofit educational and charitable adjunct of SFFB), and a representative of the WildFyre Society, a GNI-affiliated men’s naturist club in South Florida. Although they were not able to attend, AANR-Florida’s President and the Chairman / Executive Director of the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) are also involved in the ongoing discussions.

The following decisions were made:

On a parallel track, develop a core group and start educating local authorities, particularly in law enforcement and the judiciary, about applicable statutes and case law, which allow for mere nudity in the absence of lewd and lascivious conduct.
 Have a follow-up meeting of the Blind Creek organizing team on Saturday, May 3, for which the agenda would include selecting the date for a kickoff social gathering (probably clothed) at Blind Creek Beach later in spring for all interested to check out the site (which is breathtaking) and get acquainted.

 Schedule subsequent days when those interested can get together on the beach for clothing-optional use. (The current enforcement situation is that sheriff’s deputies encountering nude sunbathers on their occasional patrols ask them politely to cover up, but don’t issue citations, provided they cooperate. If a user is asked to cover up, immediate and respectful compliance is recommended.)

If you are a resident of or visitor to Florida’s Treasure Coast or surrounding areas and would like to participate actively in this project or just want to be kept informed of developments and meeting dates, please contact Nelson, team leader, at blindcreekbeach@yahoo.com.