Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Wednesday, July 15, 2009Add to FacebookAdd to Twitter
Nude beach question may be on Oct. 6 ballot

By MANDY BOLEN Citizen Staff

At least one Key West official wants to let the voters decide whether a nude beach should be allowed in the Southernmost City.

City Commissioner Bill Verge will ask his fellow lawmakers next week to place a question on the Oct. 6 ballot asking voters whether they support an exception to the current law that prohibits nude sunbathing within the city limits.

"This is a community decision, not a commission decision," Verge said Tuesday.

He wants to know how the voters feel about a nude beach.

In recent months, a group known as Florida Keys Free Beaches has been championing the idea of a clothing-optional beach. Representatives from the group spoke at a July 7 City Commission meeting. They described Haulover Beach, a clothing-optional beach in Miami Beach, and told the commission that the beach is safe, patrolled by its own beach ambassadors and family-friendly.

The group has suggested that the east end of Smathers Beach would be a good place for a clothing-optional designation, but they may have to work with several local kiteboarders, who use that area for their fledgling sport.

None of the local kiteboarding companies operate their business from that area, but it is where they capture the attention of many potential clients and students, said kiteboarder Greg Meintjes, who added that he and other kiteboarders do not oppose a nude beach, but they do want to be sure they still have access to their "adopted" area of the beach.

If Verge's proposed referendum makes it to the ballot, and if voters show support for a nude beach, it would be up to the City Commission to identify a location for it, Verge said.

Florida Keys Free Beaches also has explored using the area of Higgs Beach in front of West Martello Tower as a clothing-optional area.

That designation would require county approval, because Higgs Beach and the adjacent park property are owned and managed by Monroe County.

Commissioners will vote Tuesday on Verge's proposed referendum. The proposal must pass two public readings to become an official part of the Oct. 6 ballot.

Voters also will be asked whether the Key West mayor should serve a term of four years rather than two, and whether the city should sell a piece of property to the Pier House Resort.

The city owns the land that houses the resort's Caribbean Spa, and is considering selling it to the resort owners for about $6 million, although a purchase price is not yet finalized.

The City Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Old City Hall, 510 Greene St.

mbolen@keysnews.com

nude beach

Submitted on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 11:01am
As a local of Key West, I think the idea of a nude beach is completely wrong. We will drive away more families and only get more crazy tourist. What is wrong with City Commissioner Bill Verge. Does he have a family? I truly love Key West. Let's think about this, before just thinking about getting more funds!!!

Don't attack Bill Verge

Submitted on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 1:02pm
on this one. He wants you to have a direct say on this issue through a referendum vote.

ATTN THE REAL LOCALS

Submitted on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 8:02am
The real locals of Key West, people who raised their kids here, people who were born here, people who have lived here for more than 5 years, or people who have never compared Key West to South Beach, you need to come to the city commission meeting this Tuesday and make sure these people are stopped. They are organized, they are fanatics, and they are going to put up a huge fight on Tuesday. Y'all need to come out for this. Or at least write letters. Google this organization's website, they really mean business and have already convinced leaders of this community, mostly of the gay organizations, which there is no way it will be gay and fat middleaged men on this beach (aka Garden of Eden), they don't like each other too much, it will be one or the other. So those who think this is a great idea, keep that in mind, the people you think may go to this beach, really may not and what you will get may not be so pretty!

"Real Locals"...

Submitted on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 10:02pm
...who are glad to take my money every time I park my car, hop in a B&B for night or go to dinner? The shipping lanes full of wreckers, don't run south of the channel anymore ( or for the last 100 years). Tourism, butt-naked or not, is what drives this towns economy. Let them come naked ,come as they are, or come hungry but at least let them come. There has to be some revenue model for this great city to continue to pipe fresh water in from Dade county and water your yard's transplanted palms!

It is just a good thing...

Submitted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 8:32pm
...that no-one has suggested that school board meetings should be clothing optional! Think how un-hinged people would get over that!

Smathers Not Right Location

Submitted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 7:29pm
The east part of Smathers is not a good location, first of all, nobody goes there for a reason, it's not good for swimming. Also, that part is completely exposed to Roosevelt Blvd, no privacy whatsoever. This location doesn't make any sense. I don't think it's good for the nudists, I don't think it's good for the public, I don't know who came up with it, but they aren't from here, obviously. Key West is not Miami, please don't compare us to Miami. Even if it is approved, which I highly doubt, I don't think anyone will use it as a nude beach, it's not ideal for anyone. You also have to consider the wedding business, this end of Smathers is where a majority of them take place. This will hurt that niche wedding business. It's not worth it for the few people who will use this as a nude beach. Key West is not known for its beaches, I don't think being nude will draw nudists here.

from mid fl.

Submitted on Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:29pm
I think it might bring more people there . i'm a nudist i come down once or twice a year . i would most likely come around 4 times a year if you had a nude beach there i love key west, that would just top it off. thanks

Nudity = Sex??

Submitted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 6:07am
How do you prudes get dressed or bathe if you're so offended by nudity?

Amen, Friend!

Submitted on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 3:12pm
Right on. How do they get dressed or shower, without becoming "crazed"?

Nude Beach and Kids

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 10:19pm
Key West is not the ideal place for kids, but they are here and we should respect them. We also need to realize that if Monroe County is to survive to see the grandiose ideas of its leaders come to bare fruit then we need more families to move here. As a local business owner I must admit that if it wasn't for the local families (including military families) my business would be belly-up. I'm not saying that the nude beach is out of the question, but we need to think of the kids...

That's right - teach your kids to think the human body is dirty,

Submitted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 8:12pm
instead of accepting it as something natural. Next thing you know, your kids will be like those kids in Key Largo, making sex videos and in jail, looking at sexual predator records for the rest of their lives. Why does a nude human body have to equate to something BAD to kids? My mom and dad never hid their bodies when I was growing up and I never was intrigued by porn or magazines for that reason.

As more and more

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 10:39am
supporters of the Nude Beach proposal attack those against the idea for being "Right-Wing Religious Conservative Prudes" the voices against the proposal are getting more and more adamant in their stand to vote it down. Calling your opponent names may work in some sports, but it's a poor way to convince someone to listen to your side of a debate.

No one is being forced to go

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 12:41am
No one is being forced to go to a nude beach or be totally nude while there. It's quite simple, if you don't like it just don't go. Key West is supposed to be a laid back island where people can be themselves without being looked down upon.

NUDE BEACH

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 7:54pm
Regarding the proposed beach, remember old Confucius adage, "HE WHO ATTENDS NUDE BEACH, BEWARE OF BIRD WATCHERS...." Jay

Hello People. Key West is an Adult Destination

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 6:14pm
Who in their right mind would take a 5 year old to Fantasy Fest. That is one clueless parent. Lets make this clear, Key West is an adult tourist destination. It has never been a family destination. There is really nothing for families to do here. There are cretin political and commercial interests who like promoting Key West as a family destination. That is total insanity. Key West can not and could never compete with the real family tourism destinations in Florida. Who are they trying to kid. Oh yea, building a water park is going to do it. That too will be pathetic compared to real waterparks in Florida. Key West has nothing going for it other than adult tourism. Sorry, but we have no high tech, no manufacturing, no office parks or any other way to generate real income into the city other than tourism. We can not and should not compete with "family" destinations. There is no reason not to have a nude beach. The primary problem are the prudes who claim they love Key West and move here and then try to change it to their own outdated self-centered pre-conceived and bigoted ideas.

Im with you

Submitted on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 5:26pm
your right. they could just go to orlando for disney sea world and all of that.

Adult destination

Submitted on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 9:34pm
As a seller of travel and former hotel business owner, I must say that Key West has always been family friendly and is even more so now. My clients always tell me they remember Key West quite fondly as children on a family trip. They come back as adults and bring their own kids. That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting or having a clothing OPTIONAL beach area. Children are not born with opinions about nudity, they are taught. We must not allow our children to feel that nudity by itself is something that is wrong. There are nude beaches all over the world and maintained without issue. Nudists aren't perverts. They're people who appreciate the freedom to be as they are with no intention of harming others. Really, people, grow up. Get over it. Move on. On the other hand, we are pretty limited on beach space. Not much here. So, the question really is what benefit would there be? It would certainly attract more visitors and according to the nudist associations throughout the U.S., the average nudist is white, middle-aged, stable, ordinary. Sounds pretty tame to me.

Children!

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 12:59pm
Does this mean that childen can't go to the beach unless they are naked... You have to be 21 to get into a strip bar.. I don't think this should be a public display.. This should be in a private venue. I happend to attend fantasy fest my first year here, unknowing it was clothing optional, it was sick to have to explain to my 5 year old daughter why a man was standing nude eye level w/my child on duval on the sidewalk in brod daylight. Nobody obeys the rules therefore it should not be NO!!!!!!! Before you know it stupid people will be having sex on the beach for public display. Didn't someone get arrested early this year for having sex on the beach already??

Only an idiot would take a 5 year old to F.F

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 11:13pm
Only an idiot would take a 5 year old to Fantasy Fest

I'm always amazed at all the toddlers on the street during FF

Submitted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 8:09pm
at 9 - 11 PM. I mean, these are parents? It's not that they're dragging them into the melee of FF. It's that they have them up at those hours. Why? Because they're selfish, childish and unwilling to accept their responsibility as parents. I'm betting they let the TeeVee and the Wii and games babysit their kids too, so they don't have to put out the effort to be responsible parents. What can we expect from their kids in a few years? And of course, anything the kids do wrong will NEVER be the parent's fault in their eyes.

I'm betting these are the same whiners who write in and complain to the Citizens Voice about the nudity they saw. DUH. IF YOU DON'T LIKE NUDITY, BUBBA OR BUBBETTE, DON'T TAKE YOUR KIDS THERE! Go hang out at Children's Day and do your gawking there. And if you're offended by it, you don't need to go to the corner of Higgs where nudity might be.

AND if you're that offended, don't look down, don't look in the mirror, don't look at your spouse and don't have any more sex. Geez! You people need to relax and realize the human body is just natural and nothing more.

Nude Beach

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 6:49am
I LOVE sex on the beach!!!

Clueless Parents Make Me Sick!!!!

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 10:51pm by malkiesmum
C'mon! who in their right mind brings a 5 year old child to Fantasy Fest???!! Give me a break! That is why Florida had Disney World! Take your child there! And next time that you and the wife want to come down for Fantasy Fest, live the child at home with Grandma! Would you take your 5 year old child to Mardi-Gras in New Orleans??? NO, same goes with Fantasy Fest . . .!!

What part of...

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 2:55pm by grundoontwo
...clothing OPTIONAL don't you understand????

Oh I UNDERSTAND!!

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 3:24pm
It is PUBLIC PROPERTY and IT SHOULD BE IN A PRIVATE PLACE FOR PRIVATE PARTS!!! NOT THE POINT THAT MY CHILD WOULD BE NAKED BUT TO HAPPEN UPON A BEACH W/NUDE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT. Miami's beaches are much larger to be able to provide that. We have a small Island and if my child looks out the window and see's a naked person walking around you bet I will have some words.. And if you dare tell me to keep my child away from public areas then you bet a fight will be on.... Key West is not very Kid Friendly and you only think of tax dollars and drinking.. etc.. Where are the events for just children... Woman Fest, Biker Week, Fantasy Fest... If Key West just wants to be known about booze and boobs and crack heads, then I guess that it is not going to sound like a great vacation place to families.

Respectfully submitted...

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 5:56pm by grundoontwo
...but I don't think you DO understand, nor are you willing to even try to. When you bring up Fantasy Fest and assorted other special events, unlawful behavior, drinking, public sexual activities, tax dollars, crack heads and your right to use public areas, then you blindly associate all of that with a proposed public clothing optional beach area, you are totally off-base and uninformed. But out of curiosity, how will it be that your child will just "happen upon a beach with nude people to look at", and so we'll all know where it is, just what "window" will your child be looking out of to see that supposedly "naked person"?

Key West is not a vacation

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 3:55pm
Key West is not a vacation spot for kids... haven't you figured that out yet?

KIDS WERE HERE BEFORE THE TOURIST...

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 7:19am
THIS IS MY HOMETOWN AND YOURS AS WELL MORGAN MCPHERSON. SAY NO TO NUDE BEACH AT SMATHERS OR ANY PUBLIC BEACH FOR THAT MATTER.

Fishermen and pirates were

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 11:04am
Fishermen and pirates were before the tourists.

Mangroves and...

Submitted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 8:46pm
Mangroves and birds and fish and bugs were all here long before anybody else, they still to this very day are all completely buck-naked for all to see and nobody cares! What's up with that?

You saying they should just

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 7:38pm
You saying they should just move off your island too? Just make it a 21 and over city? What about the kids established here? It's always what the adults want.

It's clothing optional, no

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 2:35pm
It's clothing optional, no one forces you or your children to go there. No, you don't even have to be nude at a nude beach. It is for people who enjoy the freedom to get an all over tan and experience the freedom of being at one with nature. If I saw someone having sex in public, even as a naturisist, I would call the police. It's only a human body, not a lap dance at Teasers.

Stupid People Like YOU??

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 1:19pm
Tell me lady... why would you bring your child to Fantasy Fest in the first place? Why would you have you kid go to a "clothing optional beach"? It is not for kids. That is what the other 3-4 beaches in the area are for. It sounds like you have more parrenting problems than losing sleep over whether adults can go to a clothing optional beach rather than a clothing optional pool... like they could for 10 years at Atlantic Shores... which didn't have kids there either...and the world did not end. Let adults go to their own beach if they want. What the hell business is it of yours. I am more concerened about your parenting skills than I am of a few topless ladys at a beach. By the way.. what are you doing to see that your children's education is not robbed from them in the future? Nothing?????

Wow!

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 5:05pm
Guess you told her! You told her to keep her kids off the "clothing optional beach". Fantasy Fest sounds fun if you just moved into the area. Some people do not know how crazy it gets until you have been there. That is a dumb question to ask about the education future when the whole town has their hands in public money handouts. Sounds like you need to find another way to tell the public how they are going to keep the public from seeing private parts when they don't want to. How someone going to police the teens. Sends a bad message to our teens if they are allowed to walk and lay nude and they can't send a text of their chest on the phone to their boyfriends. I guess before I vote on the issue I will have to take another look at the beach and see who goes there and learn more about it. But you don't need to cram parenting skills on breeders or you wont get your beach. If the city wants this they need to have something new and exciting for kids to go to. Four teens beat and robbed someone, they don't have anything better to do?

Number 1. I said my first

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 3:46pm
Number 1. I said my first year hear Fantasy Fest I did not know nude guys would be hanging out on the street. Of course we have not been back to that filth, I would hate to step so low as you to protitute our town. I don't harp on this issue but am fueled with your words only to help get a NO vote on this issue.. Thats parenting. And as you comment about education future being robbed, I am sure that money will be milked away as it comes in and you know that as well! There will be nothing in it for our future! My childrens education is going to be private schools this year and forever! And btw, I've heard alot of people not wanting to come back to vacation cause it's the same old crude every year and it is boreing and being naked will not change their mind.

Then I guess you will leave

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 11:07am
Then I guess you will leave the islanad once your kids get to high school?

If nobody likes fantasy fest

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 12:22am
If nobody likes fantasy fest then why are the hotels packed every year months in advance? Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's wrong. This is our town too, and we shouldn't have to suffer because of narrow minded people like you.

Their own beach?

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 2:14pm
Hmmmm.... I was under the impression Atlantic Shores was a PRIVATE resort, not a tax payer funded resort. The beach belongs to all the Citizens not just adults! The homeless can use our beaches, the children can use or beaches, you cannot restrict public tax funded beaches for only a certain group. I am not a prude and do not care if someone wants run around naked, for me this is a the issue of public verses private. This should be a private venture on private property, charge admission and make money and leave the public beaches alone! This is such a silly debate and will not pass a public vote. All these supports need to find private property and get as nakes as they want.

Tax Payers

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 6:00pm
The tax payers are paying for this section of beach now anyway. It is just that no one ever goes there. It it the end of Smather's ... way at the end... with no condos or anything else across the street and see walls and berms there now that people can't "peek" at as they drive by. However, it might be a very peaceful place for you and others to sit at in silence as the planes fly over to Cuba in the next 5 years full of tourists. Then you and the others can also go back down to Duval Street like the old days with no trafic... no business.. no people... no jobs.. and higher taxes. But let's pretend we are the Aspen of the Carribean. Or Disneyland South. We are what we are here. And a clothing optional beach is closer to that then many of you seem to want to admit.

Smathers is not appropriate for a nude beach!

Submitted on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 7:51am
It doesn't matter if it's at the end of Smathers, it's on one of our main roads, and you'll be able to see people naked as you drive by or as you exercise on that sidewalk that is popular with the youth and the elders of this town. Miami's nude beach is not on Flagler Ave or Brickell? From the road, you can't see the entire length of the beach to the shore in Miami like you can in Key West. And why are you comparing us to South Beach? Key West is the absolute opposite of South Beach in every way possible. Do you even live in Key West? And for how long? Get nude somewhere private unless you people are sick in the head and enjoy people staring at your private parts including children, everyone who wants this is a pedophile. All of you should find a beach that no one can see from the main road and go there. Smathers is a sucky beach, now you are making it more repulsive as I'm sure most of the nudists are probably over 200 pounds. Have you been to Garden of Eden above the Bull? Yeah, not a pretty site! The nudists that come here are gross, not like South Beach, this is Key West. And what you are going to get is a bunch of overweight, nasty old men, naked. Gross!!!

Smathers is sucky so we want it!

Submitted on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 5:08pm
So, let me get this straight: Smathers Beach is sucky and nobody wants to go there. So this is why you are frothing at the mouth? Because you will not want to go to a beach that you never wanted to go to in the first place? OK, I can live with that. But you seem like an awfully angry person to me. I hope you don't beat your kids.

reply

Submitted on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 5:58pm
Wow! What a small minded person you are.

Incorrect Assumptions!

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 3:12pm by grundoontwo
Yes, the Shores WAS private and WAS "adults only". A PUBLIC C/O beach, such as Haulover in Miami and as proposed for KW is open to all, clothed or not, to all adults, and all adults with their accompanied children. There are many families that enjoy the "naturist" experience, adults and kids alike. These families do not have to "explain" things to their five-year-olds! This is NOT restricting anyone's rights!

clothing optional beach

Submitted on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 1:20pm
parents let there kids watch/play violent video games where people are being shot and blood squirting everywhere. these same parents cover there kids eyes when they see a lady laying nude on a beach. what do you think is hurting the children? we are a young nudist family with 2 children and would love to go to key west on holiday to enjoy a clothing optional beach. we spend our 4 week holiday in miami. we love haulover beach.

To set the record straight

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 4:09pm
I am sick of hearing all these statements of europeans being nudists. Topless and full nudity are two completly different things. Yes topless Sunbathing is acceptable on most beaches in Europe, full nudity is illegal as it is here, other than a few nudist beaches. The majority of Europeans, myself being one have no desire to sunbath in the nude in public or see anyone else doing so. Topless is fine (heck you see that st Ft. Zack already), full nudity, NO Thanks, I vote no.

Thanks

Submitted on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 12:21pm
for speaking for ALL europeans, that meant a lot.

And yet, for the record

Submitted on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 12:19pm
it is still illegal to go topless (for females, at least) at Fort Zack. Therefore is subject to the whims of the current state administration, the parks service, the ranger(s) on duty and whether or not someone complains. YES!

If you don't want to go to a

Submitted on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 12:26am
If you don't want to go to a clothing optional beach then don't. Go somewhere else. But you should not say that someone else cannot go.

Nude Beach

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 10:55am
As a property owner in Key West having a nude bathing area sounds a most sensible suggestion. Perfect climate & will do no harm to anyone. Works very well in Miami so surely in kw it would be a great success. Been waiting for years for someone to suggest it & make it happen.

Nude propery owner

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 1:14pm
Go nude on your property. This isn't Miami...and shouldn't be trying to be Miami or Europe.

Spot on

Submitted on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 3:01pm
This is not Miami it is Key West..so get a life!
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