AMERICAN BEACH, Fla. – After decades of pleading with Nassau County to protect their shoreline, residents of American Beach are turning to the courts. They’ve filed legal notice against the county, demanding an end to beach driving they say puts families — and endangered sea turtles — at risk.
For them, the fight is about more than just safety. It’s about preserving a historic Black community and honoring the vision it was founded on: “recreation and relaxation without humiliation.”
Hidden gem with a long history
Mark Dawkins has lived in American Beach for 35 years. As chair of the nonprofit Save Historic American Beach, Inc., he’s deeply familiar with both the community’s roots and its challenges.
“Yes, founded by A.L. Lewis, the first Black millionaire. Afro American Life Insurance Company. The history of American Beach goes without saying. It is a hidden gem,” he said.
But he said that gem has been under threat for too long — especially from the cars and trucks still allowed to drive on its sand.
“We just want the same protection that everyone else has. Let our dunes rebuild after storms like everyone else’s dunes are allowed to build. Let our sea turtles benefit from not having driving and people running over them,” Dawkins said.
Residents raise red flags
Pam Buncum, another longtime resident and member of the nonprofit, said she’s seen the consequences firsthand.
“I’m a walker. I walk the beach constantly in the mornings, and I’ll see little baby turtles run over,” Buncum said.
Both Dawkins and Buncum said vehicle traffic is worsening dune erosion already made severe by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole — and putting their homes at increased risk from future storms.
“We’ve had enough as a neighborhood. We are the only residential community here in Nassau County that has a drive-on access to the beach, and that shouldn’t be,” Buncum said.
They argue the issue goes deeper than just environmental damage.
‘Race is definitely a factor’
American Beach was founded in the 1930s by Black Floridians who were excluded from segregated beaches elsewhere. That identity, residents said, is part of the reason their concerns continue to be dismissed.
“Race is definitely a factor. My family has owned property here since 1990. We have been asking the county to stop beach driving at American Beach since 1990,” Dawkins said.
The group recently submitted a formal notice of intent to sue Nassau County, citing violations of the Endangered Species Act. They included a photo of a dead loggerhead sea turtle hatchling — run over on the beach — as evidence.
They also brought in a coastal scientist to compare dune conditions on American Beach with those on nearby stretches where driving isn’t allowed. The findings: Driving is actively preventing the dunes from recovering.
“We want people to use the beach,” Dawkins said. “We just don’t want them to drive on the beach because it is a residential neighborhood. There are kids and families that want to use this beach and anytime you have the cars and trucks out here, those families are in danger.”
County pushes back
County leaders declined to comment directly due to the pending lawsuit.
But News4JAX obtained a written response from county attorneys who say the residents’ accusations are “baseless.” They argue the evidence doesn’t prove a violation of the Endangered Species Act.
They also point to a 1989 law that allows beach access and parking — specifically on American Beach — and argue that driving has occurred there for nearly a century.
Residents push back on that point, saying the law was the result of litigation from other beach communities — and that American Beach wasn’t even part of it.
Looking for equal protection
Dawkins and his neighbors said this fight isn’t about banning beach access — it’s about fairness.
“The county should just do the right thing and protect us like they do everyone else, and we wouldn’t have to go to court over this issue.”
They also note that hundreds of public parking spots exist just steps away from the sand, making beach driving unnecessary.
As they prepare to take the next legal step of filing a lawsuit, residents hope it marks a turning point for their community, one that honors its past while protecting its future.