Managers at the Canaveral National Seashore in Central Florida have a big decision to make. Do they try to restore Playalinda Beach, or let nature take its course?
About half of the Playalinda Beach has been closed since two hurricanes in 2022. Back-to-back hurricanes Ian and Nicole blew out dunes and, in one section, created a wash over that floods during extreme tides and storms. Things only got worse after a No Name storm hit just before Christmas last year.
Restoring the blown-out dunes would cost millions, and be contrary to park policy. The National Park System’s policy is to let nature take its course. Playalinda will never be the same.
Canaveral is faced with a decision on just how much can be done to get use of the beach back. Bulldozers are used to plow sand off the park road to give access to some of the parking lots. But Lots 9-13 are closed as of now.
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Work has been done to restore Lots 1-8. Crossovers that were damaged in the storms are mostly rebuilt. Vault toilets in those lots are working again. Henning says Lot 6 is permanently closed due to damage to the boardwalk.
As for the future, Henning says they will await an environmental assessment from the current study. But she says “we’re not going to build a seawall or rock abutment”. Lots north of Lot 8 may open occasionally, depending on the weather.
Laura Henning, Public Information person for Canaveral, a study is underway to determine how to proceed. She said there is no timetable for that study to be done. She said some lots were opened for a while, but closed after the December storm. The status of some lots will depend on whether drifting dunes shut off the roadway.
Work has been done to restore Lots 1-8. Crossovers that were damaged in the storms are mostly rebuilt. Vault toilets in those lots are working again. Henning says Lot 6 is permanently closed due to damage to the boardwalk.
As for the future, Henning says they will await an environmental assessment from the current study. But she says “we’re not going to build a seawall or rock abutment”. Lots north of Lot 8 may open occasionally, depending on the weather.
A once wide pristine beach is now much narrower because of beach erosion. During high tides much of the beach disappears completely. Nesting areas for sea turtles that came ashore to lay their eggs no longer exist in some areas
Over two million beachgoers visited Playalinda each year before the hurricanes. It was one of Central Florida’s most popular beaches. But with only eight parking lots remaining that number will fall drastically.
Oh, and as for the nudist beach that used to be at Lot 13, they have now taken up residence on the north side of Lot 8.
The north end of the National Seashore at New Smyrna Beach remains open as usual.