PLEASE... Don't Walk Between Gulf Homes

Kurt since you run a business down there and have some connections (I assume)...how about T-shirts with a catchy phrase or slogan about staying of the dunes and sold with all the proceeds going to some beach restoration/conservation fund? Just a thought not for profit of course.......

Ok, I'm new to this post but I am passionate about this topic. As a 30A property owner and naturalist-minded person it kills me when I see kids/adults blatently on the dunes. I too have fallen into the beachmeanie catagory at times with people, including my own guests at times, treating me like I'm nuts. All of the ideas here are great. So, how can we put something into action?

Personally, I think one immediate help might be the idea some wise person put forth about tagging every renters keys with a sign/flyer about the dunes. I have friends at two of the rental agencies and would be willing to start this "campaign" by discussing this with them (rental agencies) and getting them on board, making the flyers, and distributing them. Is anyone else game to help with this? Email me offline and we can form a committee of sorts. Really, we need to do something and I am willing to start even if it's in this small way if we think it might help.

Seahorse

Educating the guests to the area via the tourist board and rental agencies are great ideas! But let's not forget all the other folks in the area, especially people who own homes.

I have seen people that own homes in an area, and should know better, trample Private gulf front property in front of them to get to the beach even when a public access was near by. A few of them (no, not all) have a sort of 'entitlement' attitude that they can go to the beach any darn way they please. This attitude may be more difficult to address. I have asked some folks to please not walk through private property (compact sand and vegetation are important in stopping erosion, also) and some of the things I have heard would make Madonna blush. Overall, though, the majority of folks do use the access. We just need to reach the people that don't!


"Please walk the extra few feet and use the public access"

The billboard (small) idea is good at both ends of 30-A. (and of course near the dunes!)

You guys have some great ideas bubbling in those brains. I would like to remind you that billboards in South Walton are against the scenic corridor code, whether they are big or small.

I seem to remember Kurt presenting the idea which I really like which includes a framed list of stuff to remember. While my thought may already be included in his thinking, I will throw it out there. Playing on the framed idea, for every important preservation idea, sea turtles, dunes, trash, perma-tents, etc., we could have an individual framed photo and small sentence or two beneath the photo for each reminder. The photo could show the beauty of the benefits instead of the detriments. e.g.- for the dunes, we would have a photo, maybe a 5x7, of the beautiful dunes, which people are sure to look at, and below could be the tag line, "To save our precious dunes which help to protect our community from major storms, we must remember to go around them."

The basic concept is to remind the reader that we are a community and need their help in order to save it. We want to them to see the postive picture of their good deeds. The beautiful photos are sure to grab attention, and keeping the message very short, everyone is sure to read it. The photo notes would be great for kitchens, hallways, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc - any small wall that is seen in a house.

Interesting idea SJ...it would also cut down on cash spent to fill walls with palm tree and monkey pics!!! I'm beginning to think an invisible fence would be a "shockingly" good idea...without the collars being available of course!

Great Ideas. Here is one more. Hang the picture with the rules in all of restaurants bathrooms in the right places. Then everyone can read while taking care of business.

AMEN TO EVERYONE WHO EXPRESSED AN OPINION ON THIS THREAD! I agree 1000%!!! We love our dunes! :clap_1:

Great Ideas. Here is one more. Hang the picture with the rules in all of restaurants bathrooms in the right places. Then everyone can read while taking care of business.

:clap_1: It would definitely get read more in that manner than the pictures put into rental agency packets!

[/SIZE]
Okay. Okay.
I'll tone it down a bit. How's This:

"Mind the Dunes"
(or you'll be shot)

I understand the need to protect the dunes, but don't you think people are getting a little mean-spirited here. I don't like the thought that my guests are being threatened with being shot and/or arrested for trespassing when trying to enjoy the beaches that God made and re-made. Weren't these very gulf-front houses built on top of the dunes with little regard for protecting them? I love this area, let's protect the dunes and be NICE about it. :!:

I understand the need to protect the dunes, but don't you think people are getting a little mean-spirited here. I don't like the thought that my guests are being threatened with being shot and/or arrested for trespassing when trying to enjoy the beaches that God made and re-made. Weren't these very gulf-front houses built on top of the dunes with little regard for protecting them? I love this area, let's protect the dunes and be NICE about it. :!:

:welcome:

Even responses to serious subjects on this board are not always serious. But, Sea Turtle has a home in peril and is worried about losing more sand.

Weren't these very gulf-front houses built on top of the dunes with little regard for protecting them?

That is an ironic observation, Nancy. :confused:

NJ,

I feel for the present gulf front owners. The builders of a large number of these homes (not necessarily all of the builders or the present owners) had total disregard for the dune system when they built right on top of them. We were not worried about bulldozers, but we are now worried about foot steps.

The bottom line is mother nature is going to destroy the dune system and re-create the beach as we know it or she will replenish it herself. We as humans give ourselves way too much credit in believing we could control the outcome.

I hope mother nature spares us for while.

Lets ask our guests to use the beach accesses and state parks available to prevent further damage to a terrible situation.

I love the t-shirt idea and I bet George at the Village Market would sell them..just an idea.

I have been a lurker on this page catching up on all the damage. Thanks for all the information. My parents live in Lake Place, so I was happy to hear from Sunshine.

A couple of ideas to throw out there...for t-shirts or billboards. I love the billboard idea.

Don't Doom the Dunes (with some type of graphic on the back with a list of things you can do to save the dunes..stay off, don't pick sea oats, etc.)

or

The state has done great campaigns focusing on saving other endanged species, why not play off of that knowlege the average person/visitor might have to help get the dune issue across with association. A list on a shirt, such as

Florida Manatee
Brown Pelican
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
[I]South Walton Dunes[/I]

They ALL need our protection.

Just some thoughts. My family treasures Grayton Beach and the entire 30A area, and I would love to see it stay around for my children and grandchildren.

Grayton Lover in Dallas

I understand the need to protect the dunes, but don't you think people are getting a little mean-spirited here. I don't like the thought that my guests are being threatened with being shot and/or arrested for trespassing when trying to enjoy the beaches

:idontno: I didn't read most posts to be any more than exaggerations. Certainly doubt they were meant to be taken so literally.

Oh, has anyone thought of "accidentally" finding some dummy landminds in the dunes. :shock: When word got out, who would go on the dunes :!:

(Not serious here, not serious!)