Officials, residents press for short-term repairs and water access at George Crady fishing pier

City and state officials met with residents and local elected leaders at a Jacksonville information session on the George Crady fishing pier to discuss repair responsibilities, immediate user needs and longer-term restoration options.

Councilman Mike Gay, City Council District 2, opened the meeting by summarizing a standing funding arrangement: “the city contributes, Jacksonville contributes $35,000 a year, to the trust … and Nassau contribute $15,000 a year,” money he said is intended to support the pier through a trustee-managed account. Gay said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) was designated in the agreement to accept responsibility for future upkeep after transfer from FDOT, but attendees said the agency has not acted to make repairs.

The session drew several council members and Representative Dean Black, who urged a mix of near-, intermediate- and long-term steps. “In the immediate term, there's been discussion of putting up bait stations and restroom facilities … that should be doable,” Representative Black said, noting a 2011 study that at the time estimated roughly $15,000,000 in restoration costs and that costs and deterioration have increased since then.

Residents testified for repairs and access. Latrice Bell, a longtime pier user, criticized state action and appealed for funding: “Find the money. Find the money. We taxpayers.” John Drew, who said five generations of his family have fished on the structure, pressed the DEP to honor the trust agreement: “They need to be held accountable, and they need to be the ones to make the needed repairs.”

Staff and officials described next steps and constraints. Nina Sickler, Director of Public Works for the city, said DOT inspections occur “on their normal schedule, which is every 2 years,” and offered to request inspection reports from FDOT. A parks official (Burkett) said the state updated its management plan last year and that the plan notes a finite service period for the bridge; the plan also recommends stakeholders consider alternate facilities if sections become unsafe.

Several speakers said short-term amenities could be restored from existing trust funds or through targeted appropriations: running water so anglers can clean fish, bait/cleaning tables and shaded seating. Representative Black’s office said it would inquire about restoring running water. “We’re going to see about getting you some water out there so you can clean your fish,” Black said.

Officials discussed using existing catwalks on the newer vehicular bridge as an interim fishing access if FDOT permits opening them; that option would avoid immediate heavy structural repairs to the older span. Park staff and council members also raised historical designation as a potential funding route and suggested the eventual scope could range from preserving the full mile-long crossing to building shorter, separate piers on either side.

No formal votes or binding commitments were recorded at the meeting. Instead, officials and staff agreed to pursue information and short-term actions: obtain FDOT inspection reports, investigate why state parks turned off running water and removed cleaning tables, and explore reopening gangways or catwalks on the newer bridge to provide fishing access while longer-term options are developed.

Residents urged expedited action and clearer communication about trust-fund disbursements and past disaster reimbursements. Shannon Crady Arrola, who described family business ties to the pier, cited a county visitation number: “George Crady State Park … 355,000 visitors in 2022,” and said high public use heightens the need for safe amenities.

The meeting closed with officials committing to follow-up: city staff to request DOT inspection reports, Representative Black’s office to press the state parks agency about water and amenities, and a stakeholder process to be convened to consider repair, partial replacement, or new facility options.

The community asked for a clearer timetable and for officials to identify which trust-account funds can be deployed for the immediate needs. Officials said the trust exists and is the logical source for near-term amenities but that that account’s disbursement requires coordination with the trustee and Nassau County.