ANTHONY DeMATTEO
Special to The Record
Publication Date: 08/21/09
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH -- Local residents and visitors soon will be able to walk through the largest undeveloped oceanfront tract in St. Johns County.
Construction is almost complete on a 1,700-foot boardwalk through land known as the London Tract and more recently as Maratea. It is scheduled to open in October, said St. Augustine Beach Public Works Director Mark Chattin.
"This is going to be a great way for people to access the southern part of the beach," said St. Augustine Beach Mayor Frank Charles.
The construction marks a significant milestone in the 11.8-acre parcel of land, which the City of St. Augustine Beach bought for $5 million after voters approved the purchase.
The land had been approved for construction of a high-end condominium complex called Maratea, but the sour economy for condominium sales scuttled the project, opening the way for the city to purchase the land from the Maratea developer. The developer retains a small section in the northeast corner of the tract.
The wide boardwalk runs from A1A Beach Boulevard to the beach. Remaining work on the boardwalk consists mostly of creating a paved walkway from its western end to the A1A Beach Boulevard sidewalk.
The boardwalk, located between beach communities Bermuda Run and Sea Colony, is made from a mostly plastic composite material.
Flanking the boardwalk is algae-topped marshland, home to cedar trees, water moccasins and other wildlife.
The cost of the boardwalk, including permitting and signage, is a little more than $400,000. A state grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program provided $200,000.
"This is the only (public pedestrian) access from F Street to Ocean Trace," Chattin said. "We are just delighted with it. It's exactly what we hoped it would be. I think it's going to be used a lot."
City officials said they hope the boardwalk will host school field trips, on which students can learn about surrounding nature.
Sea Colony resident Lisa Bond squinted at the boardwalk from the beach Thursday morning, her Boxer ZuZu at her side. The city is installing a privacy fence along a portion of its southern side, responding to privacy concerns voiced by some Sea Colony residents.
"They did a fantastic job," Bond said. "I think it's a nice idea to give people access to the beach."
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