W. Beach Dr. Pedestrian Path
So, where do I stand?
West Beach Drive is one of our city's most beautiful and iconic roads—something we all take pride in. Before sharing my opinion, I want to focus on common values we can all agree on:
Safety: No one wants pedestrians or cyclists at risk. No driver wants to harm someone.
Preserving Beauty: This road is a crown jewel. We all want it clean, well-maintained, and landscaped with native plants.
Access to Shared Spaces: Roads, sidewalks, and access points are public spaces. Everyone should feel welcome.
Environmental Protection: We love the bay, its trees, birds, and seagrasses.
Mobility: People need functional roads to commute, run errands, and pick up their kids.
Property Rights: I respect property rights and don’t support abusing easements in ways that harm neighborhoods.
Empathy: Residents worked hard for their homes. Their concerns deserve respect.
This project has been in discussion for over a decade. After Hurricane Michael, public planning sessions with Dover Kohl revived the idea of a path. Over a thousand people participated, yet engagement with the neighborhood could have been better. When something impacts your neighborhood, you should feel included.
That said, this isn’t about “us versus them.” No one wants West Beach Drive neglected or disrespected. I support real collaboration between neighbors, city staff, and stakeholders. If we work together, we can prioritize safety, respect property rights, and preserve beauty.
Will this make everyone happy? No. There’s no perfect solution, only trade-offs. But we all want West Beach Drive to be something we’re proud of—not just for those who live there, but for the entire community.
So, where do I stand?
✔️ I support a path on the south side but would like to see fewer impervious surfaces.
❌ I don’t like the current design and believe residents weren’t given enough input.
Next, I’d like to see tactical urbanism—small, temporary road changes to test designs and gather real feedback before permanent investments.
I also encourage looking at Greenville, SC, which has 39 neighborhood associations that engage with city staff early in the process. If an idea doesn’t gain support, it doesn’t move forward. This model is worth considering for a more collaborative approach in our city.