Waterfront parks and public spaces are meant for everyone—not just those who own waterfront property. This isn’t just a local preference—it’s a foundational American value. The National Park System was built on the idea that our most cherished places should be preserved for the public good, not the privileged few.
Access to the water should never be determined by wealth or proximity. Public shoreline is a shared community asset, not a private amenity. It enhances quality of life for all residents, whether they live inland or near the water. In Lake Worth Beach, these pocket parks and waterfront easements have historically allowed neighbors to walk, reflect, fish, paddle, or simply sit near the water without the barrier of fences or gates. When that access is taken away, we lose part of what makes our city inclusive, livable, and connected.
Quiet, passive use of parks and easements matters. Lake Worth Beach residents have used these spaces for generations—walking dogs, fishing, watching the sunrise, launching paddleboards, or simply sitting by the water. These uses often go unnoticed by those measuring activity in volume, but they are part of the daily rhythm of the neighborhood. Many residents choose to live here and buy and sell their homes on the promise of this tranquil access to the waterfront. Losing it diminishes mental health benefits, quiet recreation, simple joy and neighborhood home values. These spaces deserve protection just like any formal park.
How decisions are made is just as important as what is decided. When meetings are held during holiday weekends or off-season months, and public notice is minimal or unclear, it reduces transparency and shuts the door on meaningful participation. Our city must uphold democratic principles by giving the public real opportunities to weigh in, especially on matters involving permanent loss of public land.
Pocket parks and shoreline easements are not just leftover land—they're part of a delicate coastal ecosystem. These spaces support native plants, bird habitats, and even creatures like burrowing land crabs. Natural buffers along the Intracoastal help manage storm surge and protect against erosion. Privatizing these spaces could mean more hard surfaces, fewer native species, and long-term environmental harm.
When long-used public spaces are neglected or allowed to deteriorate, it doesn’t justify giving them away. That’s not governance—it’s abandonment. Instead of addressing the problem, the city is choosing to offload responsibility and call it a solution.
Drug use, homelessness, and safety concerns are real—but they exist across many public areas, not just at the waterfront. Singling out one small beach for closure is scapegoating, not strategy. These challenges require design improvements, social services, and fair enforcement—not land giveaways.
Instead of giving up on public spaces, we should invest in them. Crime and safety issues don’t get solved through privatization—they get solved through thoughtful design, effective lighting, regular upkeep, robust enforcement, and a strong community presence. Imagine what these spaces could be with native landscaping, public seating, trash bins, and signage. Public land has untapped potential.
When one wealthy homeowner stands to gain exclusive access, the rest of us lose. Property values drop, walkability disappears, and a shared community resource is gone. We still pay the same taxes—but with less access and fewer rights.
This isn’t just about one piece of land. If one public space is handed over to a private homeowner, it sends a message that others with influence or resources can do the same. What seems like a small, one-time decision can quickly become a trend, eroding access piece by piece until our waterfront is no longer public at all. We must draw the line here.
Towns like Islamorada, Tavernier, Stuart, and Delray Beach have found ways to preserve coastal access for everyone. Lake Worth Beach can do the same—by investing in its public spaces, not giving them away.