Kites Outlawed in Jax Park

One of the favorite windsurfing sites in Jacksonville, Florida is the area affectionately known as 'The Pond'...a tide-water pool about 1 1/2 miles in diameter protected from the ocean and the St. Johns River inlet by a dune/jetty combination. The site is located in Huguenot Park just off A1A on the north side of Jax. The site has become a favorite learning site for beginning kite-boarders.

Because of several incidents, and the obvious danger that kites pose to those in the immediate area, the park department is outlawing kites at the pond.

From a common sense viewpoint, this is a good decision. Based on my observations at the Pond, it is just a matter of time until a bystander is seriously injured by a kite or the strings. I'll bet dollars to dog-biscuits that within a month the kiters will be angry and blaming anyone and everyone else for this decision. The fact remains that kites are very dangerous, and their use in a concentrated area exposes everyone to a high risk of injury.

I know rec.windsurfing is not a kite board site, but there have been several similar threads in recent months. The windsurfers and kiters at The Pond actually get along fairly well, but there simply is not enough room to enable the kiters to avoid killing a tourist...or worse yet a windsurfer.

John Crumpley JAWS Jax, Fl

As a follow-up to my previous post, let me clairfy the point that kites have not been outlawed...yet. The issue is being considered seriously. (Definition of 'considered seriously': Going to happen.) There are other factors involved, but it is just a matter of time.

John Crumpley (Lowjiber) JAWS Jax, Fl

Thanks for the post John. we agree that in a limited space it is hard for kites and boards to co-exist. I am curious. Who banned the kites? The county parks and recs? thanks

big mike

The kiters have not yet been banned. If they do become banned it will be because of a little know law about flying kites too close to an airport..... Navy base just across the river. There are several people working on preventing the banning. It has nothing to do with park people banning just the Airport rules. Andy