Group wants nude beach in Palm Beach County

A grassroots group wants to establish a nude beach on a stretch of sand in southern Palm Beach County.

But they are lacking the support of a key backer needed to make it a reality— Palm Beach County government. Officials fear a nude beach could tarnish the area’s image. The county’s tourism board and parks department recommended against it.

ThePalmBeachNaturists group — which has nearly 700 members on social media — has been sending letters to county commissioners urging them to take up the issue. They also plan to start meetingregularly to coordinate their campaign.

So far, they haven’t succeeded in getting the proposal on the County Commission’s agenda. Karl Dickey, the group’s executive director, said they are up against a society that often equates nudity with lust.

“We are just a little puritanical,” Dickey said. “Hopefully, we can chip away at that a little by little.”

The closest nude beaches to Palm Beach County are Haulover Beach in MiamiDade and Blind Creek Beach in Fort Pierce.

Parks Director Eric Call said letting beachgoers bare it all could send the message to tourists that Palm Beach County is not a familyfriendly destination.

Dickey suggested allowing a portion of Gulfstream Park, a 7-acre oceanfront park between Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, to be designated clothing optional. But Call said that park isn’t conducive for that. Neighbors wouldn’t like it, and it has two playgrounds for children, he said.

“It’s a family beach,” Call said. “It’s a small beach. There’s no place where someone could go where childrencouldn’tgoandperhaps see something inappropriate for a young person.” Palm Beach CountyCommissioner Steven Abrams, whosedistrict includes Gulfstream Park, says he shares those concerns. County Commissioner Dave Kerner said his constituents tell him they are happy with the county’s beaches.

But Dickey says commissioners might be surprised how many visitors would welcome the chance to shed their bathing suits. Hethinks nude recreation is an untapped market.

“Trump supporters and hard-core liberals all come together on this issue,” says Dickey. “It’s kind of funny. We are united.”

Dickey presented the county with an economic impact study by the American Association for Nude Recreation, which estimated nudists spend $4 billion annually visiting Florida. The study concluded, “Florida has a competitive advantage over all national and international destinations to be the niche-tourism mecca for nude recreation.”

Dickey’s open to other locations, including MacArthur Beach State Park, which served as an unofficial nude beach for decades.

Dickey says he frequently sees families enjoying Haulover Beach, which has beenhailed asoneof the best nude beaches in theworld.

The Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council recommended the request be denied, Director Glenn Jergensen wrote in a letter to countycommissioners. Nude tourism would conflict with “marketing Palm Beach County to the leisure traveler as a familyfriendly resort destination,” he wrote.

A Palm Beach County ordinance requires that beachgoers keep their swimsuits on or face a fine of up to $500 or 60 days in jail. Enforcement is at the discretion of the officer, who has the option of issuing awarning, Call said.

As for Dickey, he says he’ll keep making the trek to Haulover Beach, where he can enjoy the sun and sand without facing a fine or jail time.

“It’s freedom,” he “It’s healthy. No tan That’s all it is.” said. lines.

sswisher@sunsentinel.com