Flagler County's Varn Park beach is now closed for dune restoration after Hurricane Matthew heavily eroded the beach 4 months ago.

  • Varn Park beach closed until at least May
  • Crews working on dune restoration
  • Dunes were ravaged by Hurricane Matthew

The beach area is expected to be shutdown for months while the restoration is underway.

Hurricane Matthew left widespread erosion along the beach months ago. In response, the county shut down Varn Park up to Jungle Hut Road as the Hammock Dunes Owners Association prepares for crews to start working.

"They've got to pump sand so that we have more beach. Not only that, for those houses because if they don't do it soon those houses are going to go bye-bye," said Jack Feliciano, who along with fellow resident Avelino Macado used to fish two to three times a week from the beach.

The county said it can't necessarily keep people from walking on the beach if they access it in a different area. But, they do want to make sure once trucks start to drop off sand and bring in heavy equipment that people stay away so they don't get hurt.

No trespassing signs are posted where Matthew's aftermath is still scattered along the beach. The debris includes heavy concrete block that is broken up along the sand. 

"They've got a lot of work to do," said Macado.

Some fishermen like Fernando Pedro said without the pier or the park as his backup fishing spot, he's needs another place to go to fish or he'd be bored.

"I'm retired. I've got nothing else to do," said Fernando Pedro.

But Macado said they'll just have to wait until May when it's finished.

"It's for the safety of the people, you've got to do it. We're good, we're going to make it," said Mecado.

"This is inconvenient for bathers, but is good news for our communities," said County Administrator Craig Coffey in an release.

The county said beachgoers should stay north of Jungle Hut and south of Varn Park. The county is considering asking law enforcement to keep watch to keep people out of the area.


Debris strewn along the beach at Varn Park. (Brittany Jones, Staff)