The City of Atlantic Beach enhanced the 18th Street Beach Access parking area to address residents’ concerns of congestion and nuisance activity. The initiative complemented the City’s aim to improve and beautify the community’s beach accesses.
By all accounts, the number of 18th and 19th street beachgoers has increased steadily through the years. On most days throughout the year, the public parking area is orderly; on many, days, however, the area is crowded with vehicles and traffic is heavy. Nearby neighbors say the behavior of many of the people who park on 18th Street often ranges from drunken to criminal, creating safety issues and detracting from the otherwise residential nature of the neighborhood.