Cars parked on American Beach. | News4Jax
Published on September 22, 2025 at 3:22 pm
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A five-month fight to end beach driving and protect wildlife on American Beach has been resolved with a compromise.
The push to eliminate beach driving failed, but Nassau County agreed to some concessions during mediation.
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Nassau County signed a mediated settlement agreement last week with Save Historic American Beach after the nonprofit sued the county under the Endangered Species Act, according to a news release.
The nonprofit entered the legal battle in hopes of stopping vehicles from driving on the beach to protect sea turtle nests.
In July, the judge ordered the parties to find a compromise through mediation.
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The American Beach settlement
Although the settlement does not end driving and parking on American Beach, the release said, the county agreed to take actions that may “reduce some of the dangerous conditions beach driving causes,” including:
- Enforce existing access restrictions (limited to Nassau County residents, disabled users and active-duty military) and accurately record the names and license numbers of all vehicles entering at Lewis Street.
- Enforce the 1989 law (Senate Bill 1577) allowing driving on the southernly end of Amelia Island from Nassau Sound to the developed resort areas on the Atlantic Ocean side, relieving some of the traffic pressure on American Beach.
- Establish and maintain a 10-foot conservation zone from the permanent vegetation line and review the demarcation at least annually.
- Seek permits as expeditiously as possible to move the beach vehicular access from Lewis Street to Burney Park;
- Prohibit personal property items from being left on the beach overnight as required by ordinance.
- End shark fishing at American Beach since operating commercial businesses in beach driving areas is prohibited.
Although the organization was dissatisfied with the outcome, a spokesperson stated that the fight has not ended and the group intends to support other efforts to end driving on the beach.
“We firmly believe, and have proof, that beach driving threatens our delicate coastal ecosystem and harms endangered sea turtles and other wildlife,” said Mark Dawkins, president of Save Historic American Beach. “We are encouraged by the county’s acknowledgement of our concerns, and we will continue to support all efforts that seek to end beach driving at American Beach.”
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
