ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County Commission heard nearly two hours of passionate public comments Tuesday both in favor of the Shore Drive Trail and against it.
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The plan is for an eight-foot paved path to span a little more than three miles in the St. Augustine South neighborhood from the Douglas Crane boat ramp to the Moultrie Creek boat ramp on Shore Drive.
“We’re very excited and look forward to the enjoyment of this trail for ourselves, our neighbors, and more importantly, for our children, our grandchildren, and all our future generations,” Nancy Godwin said in favor of Shore Drive Trail.
Ruth Hope said she’s pro-trail because she wants equity and access to the park.
Keith Laflam spoke against the trail’s construction.
“Please don’t pave paradise,” Laflam said.
Dan Storch was a detractor as well.
“If it becomes simply a wide-use park that really does transition everything into something that’s completely different…and I think that that’s a real concern within the neighborhood,” Storch said.
Before the comments began, Commissioner Sarah Arnold acknowledged how fraught the situation had become.
“In my two years on this board, I have seen some very contentious projects and some very passionate people, but I have never seen the divisiveness that I have seen in this neighborhood for this project, and it has been very very sad to watch,” Arnold said.
Commissioner Krista Joseph asked if the trail could be made a sidewalk instead. Her question received applause from some people in the room.
In the meeting, the county engineer said putting sidewalks closer to the road would require piping ditches which would bring additional costs and other issues. There’s also a $400,000 grant going toward the trail as planned and it would not apply to the construction of a sidewalk.
People in favor of the trail spoke about how they believed it would improve safety for pedestrians and provide greater access, including for those with disabilities.
Those not in favor voiced their concerns about the trees and flooding.
In response, the parks and recreation director said there are plans to bring on an arborist to help protect the trees, and the intention is not to cut down any trees when building the path.
In the end, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a bid for construction for the Shore Drive Trail not to exceed about $1.8 million.
Commissioner Krista Joseph was the sole no-vote and several of the commissioners who voted for the project cited public safety as a priority in their decisions.