Yes, last year’s hurricanes resulted in the naturist sections moving to near lot 8. It is mentioned above under “The history and legal status of nude beaches in Florida” (this is a long article!)
I agree that visibility and public advocacy are essential, and the dramatic demonstration at Yosemite is a good example of that. The good news, if you can call it that, is that there is considerable push back to "governing by decree" from all parts of the political spectrum. The National Park system is one of the most popular federal programs and people are pissed that is being messed with in such a slash & burn way. And social nudism also has passionate fans across the political spectrum. Finally, I would think that, in this case, the Florida tourism industry will help with the push back because they realize the negative impact on the economy if harassment like this continues.
I wouldn't count on tourism value outweighing politics in Florida, these days. The Governor went after Disney, after they opposed some of his policies, and there is no larger source of tourist revenue than Disney.
The Governor is also proposing a new state agency, to mimic the federal slash and burn chaos, within Florida state government.
Why the attacks on the Trump administration. The 1995 and 2000 year incidents were under the Clinton administration. The Yosemite Park situation occurred during the second week of the Trump administration during which most of the Cabinet had yet to be confirmed meaning that most of the directors had that time were still from the Biden Administration. After 2 weeks you're expecting fully set up programs, rules, regulations? Most of your article I agree with. But if B.E.A.C.H.E.S is having problems with finding enough advocates, that's there problem. Cutting back on government workers is not a problem. It is what the voters demanded in this election.
Reminds me of the time I was meeting a friend fishing in eastern Ontario so decided to drive the long way and see Niagara. It was a long drive from Wisconsin pulling my little boat but was having a good time. Was just south of PA/NY border when a Pennsy State Trooper pulled me over and gave me a ticket for not having a license plate on my trailer, despite me having a copy of the Wisconsin statutes saying I did not need a plate in my state, and being pulled by a Wisconsin plated truck and a Wisconsin registered boat on it. I thought I was being polite but then he cited me for disorderly contact too, was about to really get mad but then two more troopers pulled up. I just took the tickets and seethed all the way to Canada but went home through Michigan. Drove all the way out there to protest at the Court, my case gets called I am ready to cite laws, but Pennsy's finest never shows and the judge just gives me a hand flip, says "dismissed" and off to the next one. What a waste of time.
The need to act proactively starts with things like Stephane Deschanes' teachings in the courses at the University of Toronto. It's not enough to protest. Naturism can only be protected by teaching its history, morality and benefits to non-naturists. It's not about encouraging them to convert - it's about conveying enough knowledge for the practice to be respected.
Sounds to me that this was just a case of one u educated Ranger. Not uncommon in many cases, naturist and non-naturist, involving children.
Not only do lobbyists need a fight for our rights but I feel that Naturist activist need to educate not only law enforcement for all public workers. Including teachers. A kid says to their teacher they go naked on a summer holiday, CPS shows up at one's home. If not misinformation will spread and be accepted as the truth.
This is also why I'm a big fan of resorts and clubs. And why I think that resource and clubs need to stop a keeping; lower the prices, have less restrictions, and all AANR SHOULD permit families and children so that they are not kept in the dark. I say that because there are still some places that don't accept those under 18.
Another excellent report, Evan. Perhaps the bullet section toward the end should include contacting AANR or TNS, who know attorneys with experience in these issues?
The parks funds are doing fine they are hiring more people but yes ever gov group needs to be looked at we have to much waste. i was at playlinda the week this happened while we were all using 8 parking area. we were all glad when 13 opened back up there was more work going on at the park when we left than i have seen in the 4 years since we started going there. they usually have one crew working on one boardwalk at a time but this time there was 3 boardwalks been worked on. I have seen a couple people arrested but had nothing to do with nudity they were walking up in the dunes and actually dumb enough to argue with rangers by the time it was done both were cuffed and they had brought in 2 more police and they even searched the car with a warrant. I did not see the situation you are speaking of but a friend on the beach told me about it and he said the dad was very upset and was disagreeing with the ranger which i think the dad was right about the real laws. we spend a good bit of time at a couple resorts in fla and have always seen some families with kids there also have been to overseas beaches and always see families there.
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) commended the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for its focus on national parks, which he said are in “pretty good shape” after recent workforce cuts.
The Trump administration fired approximately 1,000 National Parks Service employees following spending cuts suggested by DOGE.
The park service recently announced it would reinstate about 5,000 seasonal jobs that were put on hold after a spending freeze at the direction of President Trump, according to The Associated Press.
“I think the parks are pretty good shape, because Doug Burgum is no one better in our parks,” Zinke, the former secretary of the Interior during Trump’s first administration, said during a Tuesday evening appearance on “The Hill” on NewsNation. Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, is now secretary of the Interior Department.
“And look, he’s got a lot of advice, and we want to make sure our parks are healthy and last in the future, because they are America’s greatest,” Zinke continued.
Zinke’s state is home to Glacier National Park and part of Yellowstone National Park, two of the country’s most popular, visited and historic parks. He defended DOGE’s actions, saying he wasn’t concerned about the job cuts and that there was too much waste in the government.
It's interesting that with the DOGE staffing cuts supposedly being in the name of greater efficiency, and accountability, these rangers who first cite a law which doesn't exist, then ultimately charge the nudist with something which will likely not stand up in court, as well as shouting at the man, and his 8 year old, are the type of Park Service employees Mr. Musk and his cohorts feel should remain on the job.
It's a vague article...he was arrested related to a law that doesnt exist (as the article claims)? If lot 8 is now legally the nude section, why was he approached? I suspect that 8 is not really the nude section
We've been a Playalinda visitor since 2019, so by no means an expert. Technically even 13 isn't "legally" a nude beach. It's sort of a gray area in the law. Most of the county that Playalinda sits on, is in a county that does have law against public nudity. The far northern end, including Apollo Beach is in a different county with no such law. So some will say that is why nudity is allowed around 13. (Although the actual county line isn't well known on the beach.) Plus, the entire beach and the park is Federal Land and there in no federal law against public nudity. Others claim this is why nudity is allowed there. Then the State of Florida has a law that allows for public nudity in places specifically provided for the purpose. But doesn't give details on how to designate these places. (This is the law that allows the various Nudist Resorts and the two official nude beaches, Blind Creek, and Haulover to exist.) The park does have signs "Warning" that you may encounter nude sunbathing within boardwalk 13. Some will say That's why it's allowed, as it's a designated space because of the signs. (Apollo has the same signs for boardwalk 5 of that beach.) Once again, a gray area in the law.
While the Rangers are technically law enforcement at Canaveral National Seashore, the Park where Playalinda and Apollo reside, when trouble occurs, local law enforcement is sometimes called. So according to their law, the county deputies, there is a law forbidding it. But it is still federal land. Thus even more gray area. Local long time Playalinda folks I've spoken with have said those that those who were cited in the years past, the charges were thrown out or dropped before reaching court because it's on federal land. True or not? I have no idea.
BUT last year, during our visit to Playalinda in September, before the hurricanes, we were on the nude beach when the police were called. It was a domestic situation, someone had brought an opposite sex "friend" to the nude beach, the persons spouse showed up, started trashing their partners truck, yelling screaming.... Deputies were on the beach and in the parking lot, and did nothing to the other nude beach visitors at all. They were actually very kind and friendly, as were the Rangers. On that day, I don't recall seeing any families there, but have seen families several times and the Rangers never stopped them while we were there.
Since the two hurricanes of 2022 and in 2024, Playalinda's northern end has suffered major damage to the dunes, and crossovers aka Boardwalks. When the boardwalks were closed for repairs, the "accepted" furthest northern open boardwalk became the new "13". Some Rangers would even tell folks that was where the Clothing Optional area was "currently". (13 did reopen to the public on February 15th this year.)
Agree, the story is vague and agree there must be a lot more to the story, and wonder whether nudity really played a part in at all or was just an excuse, especially as a lot of the locals are very well informed on the law/rules/code at the beaches. If this incident occurred when 13 was closed, technically the officer could have been sort of correct. There is a county and state law forbidding nudity in that area or "8", but no idea why they would have brought age into it as that law doesn't exist unless it's very new and not published. Keep in mind law enforce can lie to "suspects", while it may not be a common practice, it has and continues to happen.
Friends of ours have visited Playalinda several times since this incident occurred and haven't seen anything like this occurring. "It's just been like it always has been" according to them.
Sounds like officers trying to justify their jobs.
I thought the naturist section was only north of 13. Has something changed?
Yes, last year’s hurricanes resulted in the naturist sections moving to near lot 8. It is mentioned above under “The history and legal status of nude beaches in Florida” (this is a long article!)
Gotcha! I saved the article to read fully later. That was our beach and where we started our naturist journey
I agree that visibility and public advocacy are essential, and the dramatic demonstration at Yosemite is a good example of that. The good news, if you can call it that, is that there is considerable push back to "governing by decree" from all parts of the political spectrum. The National Park system is one of the most popular federal programs and people are pissed that is being messed with in such a slash & burn way. And social nudism also has passionate fans across the political spectrum. Finally, I would think that, in this case, the Florida tourism industry will help with the push back because they realize the negative impact on the economy if harassment like this continues.
I wouldn't count on tourism value outweighing politics in Florida, these days. The Governor went after Disney, after they opposed some of his policies, and there is no larger source of tourist revenue than Disney.
The Governor is also proposing a new state agency, to mimic the federal slash and burn chaos, within Florida state government.
Why the attacks on the Trump administration. The 1995 and 2000 year incidents were under the Clinton administration. The Yosemite Park situation occurred during the second week of the Trump administration during which most of the Cabinet had yet to be confirmed meaning that most of the directors had that time were still from the Biden Administration. After 2 weeks you're expecting fully set up programs, rules, regulations? Most of your article I agree with. But if B.E.A.C.H.E.S is having problems with finding enough advocates, that's there problem. Cutting back on government workers is not a problem. It is what the voters demanded in this election.
Thank you
I can't wait to see a total lack of lifeguards at Sandy Hook this summer.
Reminds me of the time I was meeting a friend fishing in eastern Ontario so decided to drive the long way and see Niagara. It was a long drive from Wisconsin pulling my little boat but was having a good time. Was just south of PA/NY border when a Pennsy State Trooper pulled me over and gave me a ticket for not having a license plate on my trailer, despite me having a copy of the Wisconsin statutes saying I did not need a plate in my state, and being pulled by a Wisconsin plated truck and a Wisconsin registered boat on it. I thought I was being polite but then he cited me for disorderly contact too, was about to really get mad but then two more troopers pulled up. I just took the tickets and seethed all the way to Canada but went home through Michigan. Drove all the way out there to protest at the Court, my case gets called I am ready to cite laws, but Pennsy's finest never shows and the judge just gives me a hand flip, says "dismissed" and off to the next one. What a waste of time.
The need to act proactively starts with things like Stephane Deschanes' teachings in the courses at the University of Toronto. It's not enough to protest. Naturism can only be protected by teaching its history, morality and benefits to non-naturists. It's not about encouraging them to convert - it's about conveying enough knowledge for the practice to be respected.
Sounds to me that this was just a case of one u educated Ranger. Not uncommon in many cases, naturist and non-naturist, involving children.
Not only do lobbyists need a fight for our rights but I feel that Naturist activist need to educate not only law enforcement for all public workers. Including teachers. A kid says to their teacher they go naked on a summer holiday, CPS shows up at one's home. If not misinformation will spread and be accepted as the truth.
This is also why I'm a big fan of resorts and clubs. And why I think that resource and clubs need to stop a keeping; lower the prices, have less restrictions, and all AANR SHOULD permit families and children so that they are not kept in the dark. I say that because there are still some places that don't accept those under 18.
Uneducated is one thing, but that cop made up a law.
Another excellent report, Evan. Perhaps the bullet section toward the end should include contacting AANR or TNS, who know attorneys with experience in these issues?
The parks funds are doing fine they are hiring more people but yes ever gov group needs to be looked at we have to much waste. i was at playlinda the week this happened while we were all using 8 parking area. we were all glad when 13 opened back up there was more work going on at the park when we left than i have seen in the 4 years since we started going there. they usually have one crew working on one boardwalk at a time but this time there was 3 boardwalks been worked on. I have seen a couple people arrested but had nothing to do with nudity they were walking up in the dunes and actually dumb enough to argue with rangers by the time it was done both were cuffed and they had brought in 2 more police and they even searched the car with a warrant. I did not see the situation you are speaking of but a friend on the beach told me about it and he said the dad was very upset and was disagreeing with the ranger which i think the dad was right about the real laws. we spend a good bit of time at a couple resorts in fla and have always seen some families with kids there also have been to overseas beaches and always see families there.
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) commended the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for its focus on national parks, which he said are in “pretty good shape” after recent workforce cuts.
The Trump administration fired approximately 1,000 National Parks Service employees following spending cuts suggested by DOGE.
The park service recently announced it would reinstate about 5,000 seasonal jobs that were put on hold after a spending freeze at the direction of President Trump, according to The Associated Press.
“I think the parks are pretty good shape, because Doug Burgum is no one better in our parks,” Zinke, the former secretary of the Interior during Trump’s first administration, said during a Tuesday evening appearance on “The Hill” on NewsNation. Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, is now secretary of the Interior Department.
“And look, he’s got a lot of advice, and we want to make sure our parks are healthy and last in the future, because they are America’s greatest,” Zinke continued.
Zinke’s state is home to Glacier National Park and part of Yellowstone National Park, two of the country’s most popular, visited and historic parks. He defended DOGE’s actions, saying he wasn’t concerned about the job cuts and that there was too much waste in the government.
Thank you for sharing this important information.
America Needs To Stand Up And Get As Many Of It's International Friend's and Family and Allies To Join Us As Possible.
It's interesting that with the DOGE staffing cuts supposedly being in the name of greater efficiency, and accountability, these rangers who first cite a law which doesn't exist, then ultimately charge the nudist with something which will likely not stand up in court, as well as shouting at the man, and his 8 year old, are the type of Park Service employees Mr. Musk and his cohorts feel should remain on the job.
Terrible how he was treated in front of his daughter.
It's a vague article...he was arrested related to a law that doesnt exist (as the article claims)? If lot 8 is now legally the nude section, why was he approached? I suspect that 8 is not really the nude section
We've been a Playalinda visitor since 2019, so by no means an expert. Technically even 13 isn't "legally" a nude beach. It's sort of a gray area in the law. Most of the county that Playalinda sits on, is in a county that does have law against public nudity. The far northern end, including Apollo Beach is in a different county with no such law. So some will say that is why nudity is allowed around 13. (Although the actual county line isn't well known on the beach.) Plus, the entire beach and the park is Federal Land and there in no federal law against public nudity. Others claim this is why nudity is allowed there. Then the State of Florida has a law that allows for public nudity in places specifically provided for the purpose. But doesn't give details on how to designate these places. (This is the law that allows the various Nudist Resorts and the two official nude beaches, Blind Creek, and Haulover to exist.) The park does have signs "Warning" that you may encounter nude sunbathing within boardwalk 13. Some will say That's why it's allowed, as it's a designated space because of the signs. (Apollo has the same signs for boardwalk 5 of that beach.) Once again, a gray area in the law.
While the Rangers are technically law enforcement at Canaveral National Seashore, the Park where Playalinda and Apollo reside, when trouble occurs, local law enforcement is sometimes called. So according to their law, the county deputies, there is a law forbidding it. But it is still federal land. Thus even more gray area. Local long time Playalinda folks I've spoken with have said those that those who were cited in the years past, the charges were thrown out or dropped before reaching court because it's on federal land. True or not? I have no idea.
BUT last year, during our visit to Playalinda in September, before the hurricanes, we were on the nude beach when the police were called. It was a domestic situation, someone had brought an opposite sex "friend" to the nude beach, the persons spouse showed up, started trashing their partners truck, yelling screaming.... Deputies were on the beach and in the parking lot, and did nothing to the other nude beach visitors at all. They were actually very kind and friendly, as were the Rangers. On that day, I don't recall seeing any families there, but have seen families several times and the Rangers never stopped them while we were there.
Since the two hurricanes of 2022 and in 2024, Playalinda's northern end has suffered major damage to the dunes, and crossovers aka Boardwalks. When the boardwalks were closed for repairs, the "accepted" furthest northern open boardwalk became the new "13". Some Rangers would even tell folks that was where the Clothing Optional area was "currently". (13 did reopen to the public on February 15th this year.)
Agree, the story is vague and agree there must be a lot more to the story, and wonder whether nudity really played a part in at all or was just an excuse, especially as a lot of the locals are very well informed on the law/rules/code at the beaches. If this incident occurred when 13 was closed, technically the officer could have been sort of correct. There is a county and state law forbidding nudity in that area or "8", but no idea why they would have brought age into it as that law doesn't exist unless it's very new and not published. Keep in mind law enforce can lie to "suspects", while it may not be a common practice, it has and continues to happen.
Friends of ours have visited Playalinda several times since this incident occurred and haven't seen anything like this occurring. "It's just been like it always has been" according to them.
Time for a mass nude-in protest