Organizations continued efforts for beach-side ADA and wheelchair access

For the past 20.8 years of Haulover's naturist beach existence there has been a lack off sufficient parking spaces for wheelchair bound and other disabled beach visitors. The Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department's position has been that they have adequate parking on the west side of A1A. The fact that you could not get from the west side parking to the beach-side by wheelchair did not appear to be a concern to park administrators.

Ken Tauer of South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association (SFFB/FNA) and Shirley Mason of B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute (B.E.A.C.H.E.S.) have been lobbying the Parks and Recreation for parking spaces east of state road A1A (Collins Ave,) for access from the west side for over five years. Both Miami-Dade’s Commission on Disability Issues (CODI) and the Paralyzed Veterans Association of Florida (PVAF) has been involved in this endeavor due to complaints from its members since January 2011.

SFFB/FNA was promised a parking area for the disabled, east of A1A since 1992 by each Park Department director. We are now on our 5^th Parks and Recreation director and still none of the promised spaces have been built. During the mid 1990's nine parking spaces assigned to the Lifeguards next to their headquarter building were reassigned for the disabled and lifeguards were assigned parking on the north side of the their building until additional spaces were built. Those spaces were never built.

For clarity, places signed ‘handicapped‘ and ‘disabled‘ are the same spaces. They can be used by anyone with a Handicapped Parking Permit. Because of that, most spaces are taken up by people that are not wheelchair bound and can walk, compounding the problem for those that require wheelchairs.

The federal law requiring Handicapped Parking spaces went into effect in 1991. This law requires these parking spaces be determined by a ratio of total parking spaces available. Haulover Beach Park has been out of compliance for adequate spaces and access east of Collins Avenue since that time.

Over the years people in wheelchairs have arrived at Haulover wanting to go to the beach, unable to park and have access to the beach have threatened to sue Miami-Dade County. A few wanted to file suit against Miami-Dade County, but we have discouraged them based on the false promises of park department administrators.

In March 2012, approximately 20 disabled people jointly filed a formal complaint with a federal agency requesting an investigation of Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department’s refusal to remedy this parking problem after 20 years. A Justice Department lawsuit is likely to follow.

The effort continues.

Florida Panhandle Naturists seek a designated naturist beach

South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association has been contacted and is currently assisting several Florida Panhandle naturists in their quest for a designated naturist beach.

Florida Panhandle's traditional beaches have suffered from both oppressive law enforcement on its beaches to recent storms that have altered the seashore landscape, destroying traditional naturist beach locations, some by washing away dunes that provided privacy. A few counties have passed mis-guided anti-nudity ordinances at the request of certain religious political organizations. All having an adverse effect on naturist beach opportunities.

We have been contacted by several individuals for help in establishing a designated beach in the area along the Haulover Beach model. Many of the traditional naturist beach sites are no longer available. Presently beach locations are being scouted by a few experienced souls and recommendations are being made.

It appears that one of the best locations that has been in use for a long time is located in the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key. The beach is known as Johnson Beach. This is a federal property under the National Park Service. While there are no federal laws against mere nudity, you can still be ticketed by their applying Florida state law or a county ordinance from a contiguous county by using their concurrent jurisdiction agreement. Receiving a citation does not mean you are guilty of breaking any law if you were merely nude. That is why you should contact us.

Presently there appears to be a new ranger that is pro-actively harassing naturists when they attempt to use the Johnson Beach. It is currently recommended that you not go there. If you should receive a citation contact our Legal Defense Fund for advice. Phone 305 620 7090. If you get a voice mail recording leave your name and number and why you are calling and the call will be returned promptly.

Should anyone reading this live in the Panhandle and wish to volunteer you can call 305 620 7090. If you know of a skinnydip site that is safe and available let us know by calling the same phone number.

Donations to our Legal Defense Fund can be made by sending a check to" SFFB/FNA PO Box 530306 Miami Shores, Florida 33153. Write LDF in the remarks section. You can join our association by sending a check to the above address and writing membership in the remarks line. Annual dues is $35.00. You can also donate or join on line at: www.sffb.com

SFFB/FNA maintains a paid lobbyist in Tallahassee to represent naturists interests in Florida. We also work closely with B.E.A.C.H.E.S Foundation and the Naturist Acction Committee on state-wide Florida beach issues.

For those traveling to through the area, there is a new nudist park located in the Panhandle. Call the Naturist Society for information and location at
1 800 886 7230


	South Florida Free Beaches Florida Naturist Association April 2012



In This Issue President's Message: The Boat Storage Rack Issue Florida Legislative Report Clothing Optional Social Club ADA access update Panhandle Naturist Beach Happy Birthday Haulover Beach general information Handicapped access NAC Newsletter Support SFFB Visit our website @ www.sffb.com If you aren't already a subscriber to our newsletter, you may sign up on our website. Check out the Haulover DVD and other cool naturist stuff offered by SFFB, BEACHES Foundation and The Naturist Society at our online Beach Store advertisements A publication bringing together the largest nudist community in the world www.nusasun.com Celebrating the female nude, Body and Soul. Available at The Naturist Society Skinny-Dipper Shop.				Dear Naturist Friend: President’s Message: The boat storage rack issue Our mission is to mentor Haulover Park’s clothing-optional beach. As such we deal with many different issues, some of which could have negative consequences for its loyal fans. The proposed 508 unit boat storage house that is to be built in the North Parking Lot will certainly impact the current convenient parking for the naturist beach users. Although proposed plans include additional new spaces, it is at the expense of the mangrove trees and the habitat it provides. There is no guarantee, however, that those spaces will, indeed, be created. We have over 20 years’ experience of broken promises by the Miami-Dade County Park & Recreation Department. We just flat out don’t trust them to keep their word. The last month or so has been spent in investigating the situation, after learning of it by chance and becoming concerned that the Park Department was trying to do an end run on the project for some reason. According to the 2001 Haulover’s Master Plan, this building is not a planned amenity for the park. Nevertheless, an Agreement was signed between Miami-Dade County and the company owning the Haulover Marina lease, Westrec, in July 2010 this agreement was put before the county commission in the form of a resolution by Comm. Sally Heyman where it approved. The original plans called for it to be located in the area by the existing boat storage rack. When we contacted Westrec Marine to ask why the original plan had been changed to the North Lot, we were told that M-D Parks Department insisted they build it there. We realize there are economic reasons why Haulover Park would want to have additional commerce from the marina. We’ve been told many times how “broke” they are when we ask that the washrooms be serviced more frequently on holiday weekends, or that there be evening ranger patrols to discourage crime. So we’re not really against the boat storage being expanded. We just don’t want it in the North Lot. We are requesting a meeting with the Mayor of Miami-Dade County to discuss this matter, as well as some other concerns. If you would like to let the government of Miami know how you feel about this matter, email Mayor Carlos Gimenez at mayor@miamidade.gov and Javier Souto, Chairman of Parks Committee at District10@miamidade.gov. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, your opinion counts. We’ve contacted the Sierra Club, the Urban Environment League and the Audubon Society to alert them to the impact this project will have on the mangrove and wooded area if it remains located in the North Lot. South Florida Free Beaches is working for you, and glad to do it. But sometimes a little help from our friends is needed. Any contributions to our Legal Defense Fund would be so appreciated. In order to continue to mentor Haulover Park we need your financial support. Whatever you can manage would be helpful, no matter the amount. You can donate through our web site. www.sffb.com The struggle continues. Stay tuned! Richard Mason, President, South Florida Free Beaches P.S. This parking lot was built in the first place because a board member of South Florida Free Beaches informed the US Army Corps of Engineers that the county made a decision not to build the lot to fulfill their parking space obligation to the beach renourishment contract. The spaces in this lot are dedicated to the beach visitor by agreement with the US Army Corps. Florida Legislative Report The 2012 Session is over. There were no bills introduced or passed that would affect the status of being nude in a public or private place. The “breast feeding” bill, which was really a “cover your breast in public” bill, did not make it to committee. If this bill had passed, the women on Haulover Beach would have to wear tops, but not bottoms. Try to picture that! OK, Florida! You got to love the place. The legislators were only concerned with the redistricting of house, senate and congressional districts and ‘save my own seat’ housekeeping. We want to thank our lobbyist, Ray Maury, of MMG Group/Tallahassee for his efforts and successes during the last session. Clothing Optional Meet-Up Group – On Land and Sea Cypress Cove – April 26-29. This is their 50th Anniversary Weekend celebration. On Friday night you can sing Karaoke style along to a live band during the American Idol Competition and win a free body painting on Saturday from Carl Flick, our favorite artist. Saturday’s highlight will be a dinner dance featuring a Beatles Tribute Band. There are 37 of us going so far, so if you haven’t already done so, make your room and dinner reservations with Cypress Cove at 888-683-3140. Mention Perry's Special Meet Up Rate. Need a roommate? We may be able to help. Halloween Cruise - Departing October 28th. An 8 day, 7 night trip aboard the 5 Star Ruby Princess leaving from Fort Lauderdale with stops in the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. Although this is not a nude cruise, nude beaches and nude snorkeling stops are planned. Check out the details on both trips at http://www.meetup.com/Clothing-Optional-Social-Club/. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAULOVER BEACH It’s our 21st clothing-optional birthday and we’ll be celebrating during National Nude Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 14th and 15th. We’re going for another Guinness World Record attempt. SFFB is hosting a try for the most people skinny dipping at a single venue, worldwide. The record holder at the moment is Midsummer Skinny Dip group in Llangennith, South Wales, UK with 413 people last June http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/12000/largest-skinny-dipping-(swimming-naked) . Think we can beat them? We’re gonna try! The Guinness attempts in 2009/2010 were for the greatest number of people in the water in multiple locations throughout North America. Of all locations participating, Haulover came in #1 in 2010. On Saturday evening we’re hosting a dinner dance at Seminole Health Club in Davie, Florida. Seminole, after a brief test of the lifestyle market, is back to being a naturist resort. They have very recently joined The Naturist Society’s network of clubs and we’re delighted to be able to reintroduce them to you. The place looks great and the management understands naturist etiquette. They have about 15 rooms to rent at discounted rates so you may want to spend a long weekend there. Watch the enewsletter for further details on price, etc. WANTED: We’d like to have a volleyball tournament this weekend on the beach, but need an organizer. Anyone experienced in tournament admin that would like to put it together, please let us know ASAP. We have some excellent players who’d love the competition. Mark this weekend on your calendar now. Haulover Beach is only as good as the people who use it. That’s why it’s the premier beach in the U.S. Organizations continued efforts for beach-side ADA and wheelchair access For the past 20.8 years of Haulover's naturist beach existence there has been a lack off sufficient parking spaces for wheelchair bound and other disabled beach visitors. The Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department's position has been that they have adequate parking on the west side of A1A. The fact that you could not get from the west side parking to the beach-side by wheelchair did not appear to be a concern to park administrators. Ken Tauer of South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association (SFFB/FNA) and Shirley Mason of B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute (B.E.A.C.H.E.S.) have been lobbying the Parks and Recreation for parking spaces east of state road A1A (Collins Ave,) for access from the west side for over five years. Both Miami-Dade’s Commission on Disability Issues (CODI) and the Paralyzed Veterans Association of Florida (PVAF) has been involved in this endeavor due to complaints from its members since January 2011. SFFB/FNA was promised a parking area for the disabled, east of A1A since 1992 by each Park Department director. We are now on our 5^th Parks and Recreation director and still none of the promised spaces have been built. During the mid 1990's nine parking spaces assigned to the Lifeguards next to their headquarter building were reassigned for the disabled and lifeguards were assigned parking on the north side of the their building until additional spaces were built. Those spaces were never built. For clarity, places signed ‘handicapped‘ and ‘disabled‘ are the same spaces. They can be used by anyone with a Handicapped Parking Permit. Because of that, most spaces are taken up by people that are not wheelchair bound and can walk, compounding the problem for those that require wheelchairs. The federal law requiring Handicapped Parking spaces went into effect in 1991. This law requires these parking spaces be determined by a ratio of total parking spaces available. Haulover Beach Park has been out of compliance for adequate spaces and access east of Collins Avenue since that time. Over the years people in wheelchairs have arrived at Haulover wanting to go to the beach, unable to park and have access to the beach have threatened to sue Miami-Dade County. A few wanted to file suit against Miami-Dade County, but we have discouraged them based on the false promises of park department administrators. In March 2012, approximately 20 disabled people jointly filed a formal complaint with a federal agency requesting an investigation of Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department’s refusal to remedy this parking problem after 20 years. A Justice Department lawsuit is likely to follow. The effort continues. Florida Panhandle Naturists seek a designated naturist beach South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association has been contacted and is currently assisting several Florida Panhandle naturists in their quest for a designated naturist beach. Florida Panhandle's traditional beaches have suffered from both oppressive law enforcement on its beaches to recent storms that have altered the seashore landscape, destroying traditional naturist beach locations, some by washing away dunes that provided privacy. A few counties have passed mis-guided anti-nudity ordinances at the request of certain religious political organizations. All having an adverse effect on naturist beach opportunities. We have been contacted by several individuals for help in establishing a designated beach in the area along the Haulover Beach model. Many of the traditional naturist beach sites are no longer available. Presently beach locations are being scouted by a few experienced souls and recommendations are being made. It appears that one of the best locations that has been in use for a long time is located in the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key. The beach is known as Johnson Beach. This is a federal property under the National Park Service. While there are no federal laws against mere nudity, you can still be ticketed by their applying Florida state law or a county ordinance from a contiguous county by using their concurrent jurisdiction agreement. Receiving a citation does not mean you are guilty of breaking any law if you were merely nude. That is why you should contact us. Presently there appears to be a new ranger that is pro-actively harassing naturists when they attempt to use the Johnson Beach. It is currently recommended that you not go there. If you should receive a citation contact our Legal Defense Fund for advice. Phone 305 620 7090. If you get a voice mail recording leave your name and number and why you are calling and the call will be returned promptly. Should anyone reading this live in the Panhandle and wish to volunteer you can call 305 620 7090. If you know of a skinnydip site that is safe and available let us know by calling the same phone number. Donations to our Legal Defense Fund can be made by sending a check to" SFFB/FNA PO Box 530306 Miami Shores, Florida 33153. Write LDF in the remarks section. You can join our association by sending a check to the above address and writing membership in the remarks line. Annual dues is $35.00. You can also donate or join on line at: www.sffb.com SFFB/FNA maintains a paid lobbyist in Tallahassee to represent naturists interests in Florida. We also work closely with B.E.A.C.H.E.S Foundation and the Naturist Acction Committee on state-wide Florida beach issues. For those traveling to through the area, there is a new nudist park located in the Panhandle. Call the Naturist Society for information and location at 1 800 886 7230 WHEELCHAIRS NOW AVAILABLE at HAULOVER Push wheelchairs with balloon tires may now be reserved by calling Ocean Rescue at 786-336-6990. One of 2 currently available is shown, with more on the way. Use of the wheelchairs is free to persons with disabilities. Disabled access / ADA information online at: B.E.A.C.H.E.S. website Read the current NAC newsletter, and keep informed of national naturist issues and alerts on the NAC website. Suppport Free Beaches To ensure many more nude beach days, please consider joining South Florida Free Beaches and The Naturist Society. We are currently offering premiums for new members joining SFFB and The Naturist Society. For details, please go to: www.sffb.com/sponsors