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A Nude Florida Beach |
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By Jesse Monteagudo
As Stephane Deschenes of the Federation of Canadian Naturists wrote,"all this [is] due almost exclusively to the dedication, persistency, and hard work of the South Florida Free Beaches (SFFB) organization." Thanks to their efforts, we can enjoy a safe, convenient, and legally-sanctioned "nude beach". Haulover's status as the only public park in a coastline that's otherwise dotted with high rises have made it a coveted object for the big developers who have undue influence with the nearby municipalities of Sunny Isles Beach and Bal Harbour. Other groups with a stake in the future of Haulover are working families and individuals who use the Park for recreational activities and, of course, nudists. As SFFB's Shirley Mason wrote in the Beach Buzz:
This proposal drew fire from Surfside Mayor Paul D. Novack and others who saw the golf course as a giveaway to the special interests: "It is no secret that the cities of Sunny Isles Beach and Bal Harbour have hired a famous lobbyist for the purpose of getting a championship golf course and a marina built at Haulover. These will be leased out to private business interests and it is unlikely that the general public will be able to afford the price," wrote Ralph Camerlengo in the Sunpost. Thanks for the hoopla, there will be no golf course expansion at Haulover. Instead, according to Michael Kush, "the current golf course will be replaced by a golf instructional facility (driving range/putting green) at the extreme south end of the park. Much of the present golf course will be converted to open area. . ."
As a naturist advocacy group, SFFB/FNA's main concern is with "anything that would impact on the clothing-optional use and users at Haulover Beach," as Mason put it. "The over-development and commercial exploitation of Haulover Beach Park is cause for concern and will garner [our] ... input as will positive developments." With this in mind, SFFB representatives Paul Friedrich, Jr., Michael Kush, and Richard and Shirley Mason met with Kevin Asher and with Barbara Falsey, Chief of Planning for Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation on August 8th. According to Kush, who wrote about the meeting in Haulover-Digest, "we were given an opportunity to review the latest design plans, and review the 20 design recommendations that Richard had earlier drafted, and that SFFB/FNA had then proposed to the Park Department. We are pleased that most of our recommendations are now in the latest design plan that we were shown." In addition to the already-mentioned golf course, the following items are in the planning stages: 1. No loss of parking. North lot unchanged. More parking for beach users at north end. 2. Showers on the beach. 3. Restroom renovation or replacement. 4. Restoration of dune cover. 5. Chickee huts on the Beach. 6. New handicap parking east of A1A, at the north end of the naturist beach. 7. New tunnel under A1A to better separate "textile" and naturist beach users. Items that "were not feasible" at this time were SFFB proposals to move the boat launch area and the walk/bike path. "Items that are still open" include SFFB's request to add a third restroom and more signs and to expand the naturist area by 750 feet. The Free Beaches' apparent success can be attributed to their political involvement and to the nude beach's positive contributions to Miami-Dade County tourism and revenues. Even bureaucrats are not so stupid as to kill a goose that lays golden eggs (politicians are another story), and Haulover Park happens to be the County's biggest money-maker. But there is still work to be done, for maintaining a nude beach like Haulover is an ongoing concern. In the words of Michael Kush: "SFFB's efforts, and the efforts of other concerned parties such as Mayor Novack of Surfside, seem to be working. But we are not yet relaxing our guard. These plans can still change, as they have in the past. The Park Department expressed their concern that Haulover's redesign benefit the entire community, and they recognize the clothing-optional beach users as forming a significant user base. We agree, and we believe they are sincere, and the new plans show it. But there are still interests out there that would like to make money on Haulover through new concessions, and exclude Naturist and minority users from the park. So we will be keeping an eye on future developments and will be prepared to issue a 'call to action' if the plans get changed again."
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Two members of South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association enjoy Haulover Beach's freedom 
Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer who lives in South Florida with
his domestic partner. He can be reached at 
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