Haulover Clothing-Optional Beach in the Crosshairs

MIAMI — Just as LGBT politicians are fond of saying there’s no “gay way” to fix a pothole, the gay naturists of Haulover Park’s nude beach don’t see a gay—or “naturist”—way to park a car.

Fearing that plans for a new boat house would use up the limited available parking spaces at Miami’s Haulover Park—Miami-Dade County’s officially-sanctioned clothing-optional beach—both gay and straight park users asked Miami-Dade Commissioners on December 4 to delay approval of the planned project for 60 days. Their request was denied.

“I’m not happy with it but I’m trying to make the best of it,” said Miami resident Seth Paronick, club and naturist outreach liaison for Gay Naturists International.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman said the project—which includes the building of a pier and restaurant as well as dune, along with handicap and landscaping improvements—has been in the planning stages for years.

“Whether you have clothes on or not, it’s an incredible beach. To defer [the plan] to get more information isn’t going to make a difference,” said Heyman.

County officials have assured the park’s users that the boat house would increase parking, from a current 352 to 498 spaces, with 108 of those to be built specifically for the planned 100,000 sq. ft boat house, which will have enough space to house 508 boats.

“If only a fraction of boaters come, they’re going to suck up all that extra parking,” complained Norma Mitchell, board member of South Florida Free Beaches, which advocates that a fair share of public space should be set aside for nude recreation. “One hundred and eight [parking spots] is not going to accommodate the users of the beach.”

Mitchell and others say the county hasn’t factored in the parking spaces that will be used by the friends and family members of boaters who will use the facility, or the employees who will work there. And they’re worried that boaters could take all the parking in the north lot, forcing beachgoers to walk an additional mile.

“They have our word that there will be nothing to hinder their parking,” said Jack Kardys, Director of Miami-Dade’s Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department.

Paronick of Gay Naturists International urges park supporters to hold the county to its promises, including a planned expansion of the nude beach by 350 ft.

“There is one area [of the beach] that appears to be particularly popular with the gay community,” Paronick noted. “Just like any place, the gays tend to find the most remote area [and stake it out].”

Richard Mason, President of South Florida Free Beaches, said although there is a “gay” section, LGBT users also frequent the rest of the beach. “We don’t discriminate,” he said.

And for tourists, the line between “gay” and “straight” beaches is at best blurry. “This beach is an international tourist destination [and] not because of the boat house,” said Cynthia Fish of Fort Lauderdale.

Fish says she has been going to Haulover for the last six years, “specifically because it is a clothing-optional beach,” and has met numerous people from South America, Europe, and Australia who frequent the spot, in addition to her friends from Broward, Brevard, and Martin counties, who also make the drive.

Many beach advocates argue that the boat house could end up risking the $1.4 million in annual parking revenue generated by Haulover, revenue they say is mostly generated by nudists.

“Before the naturists moved in [about 20 years ago] the beach was a drug-infested, low-life, poor beach,” said Pompano Beach resident Paul Friderich, who is part of a volunteer ambassador program that helps maintain Haulover.

Ted Mozino of Fort Lauderdale became a naturist in 1980 when his doctor told him to get more exposure to sun and salt water to treat his psoriasis.

“I have seen the evolution of this movement. We’ve come a long way. We’re not a bunch of weird hippies anymore,” said Mozino. “There’s a huge community. You’ve seen the numbers, and I believe we’re a huge asset.”

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose Diaz urged care when it comes to upsetting the balance between “nature” and what others see as beachfront “nurture.”

“There is a need for [boating], but at the same time you don’t want to hurt something else,” Diaz cautioned.