ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The recent St. Augustine Beach renourishment project gave New Year’s Eve spectators a never-before-seen view of the fireworks celebration.
Thousands crowded the beaches on Tuesday night to watch the sky light up as the clock inched closer to midnight to bring in 2025.
This year, spectators like Angela Curtis could stand close to the St. Johns County Ocean Pier for a better view.
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“There’s been so many years that there was no sand. The rock wall was it. You could never get this close so when you can sit this close, the fireworks are beautiful and it’s amazing because they go off on the water and it’s the best view ever,” Curtis said, who attends the celebration annually.
Pier supervisor Tracy Leahy said the beach renourishment has done wonders for the area.
“How amazing it is that you get to be this close to a fireworks show. I mean we have a barricade so you can’t be right next to it, but you’re pretty close,” Leahy said. “I love the fact that we can spread out, and everybody can have their own space. I think it’s wonderful.”
Nader talked about his experience of past fireworks shows since attendees could not watch from the sand near the pier because the beach was washed away.
“It was a little bit difficult, and I remember one time when we left early,” he said.
“Everything was pretty much flooded, so this is giving everyone a nice opportunity to get a lot closer to where the action is,” Matt Chapman recalled.
“That makes you part of the show,” Curtis said. “You’re not just watching; you’re part of it.”