AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. – North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) unveiled new interpretative signs at Little NaNa Dune in historic American Beach in Nassau County Friday morning.
Little NaNa Dune is part of a dune system that includes NaNa Dune, the tallest dune in Florida, according to a release.
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NFLT acquired the 1.55 acres of Little NaNa Dune in January 2021 to protect it from impending development and preserve the area’s natural integrity and essential ecosystems.
On Friday, three interpretative signs will be installed on Burney Road near Little NaNa Dune. One sign will tell the story of American Beach, founded in 1935 to give African Americans access to a beach during segregation.
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The second sign will explain the importance of saving this dune system and why it’s essential for wildlife survival.
The third sign will feature NFLT and its role in preserving Little NaNa Dune and the donors who helped make it possible.
Pastor Carlton Jones credited the late environmental activist MaVynne Betsch... affectionately known was The Beach Lady doing the work to make this happen.
“This is a historic beach. Its history is still rich and it’s alive. It’s mainly because of her. She was an early advocate. Though she’s not here today, we want to remember her also,” Jones said.
The North Florida Land Trust and the group Amelia Forever worked together by contributing more than $1 million to make sure Little NaNa Dune was protected.
“Our motto at the Land Trust is it’s now or never. If you’re going to protect it, so your grandchildren can know what North Florida looked like, it’s us and the bulldozers and there’s a race, and today we won,”NFLT CEO Allison DeFoor said.
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In 2002, the original American Beach property was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The American Beach Museum opened in 2014 at 1600 Julia Street in American Beach.