South Florida Free Beaches
Quest for a Key West Naturist Beach

Dec. 27, 2010: Update

The future of this effort to establish a c/o beach in Key West is presently uncertain. The involvement of SFFB is noted in the running commentary below. The current situation as we understand it is that the city has rejected the Smathers location, and needs to change the current city nudity law to allow the designation of any c/o area. The local group seeking a c/o beach, Florida Keys Free Beaches, has not made any recent posts on this issue to its website.


Mar. 30, 2010: City Commission Workshop—Designation deferred

Richard and Shirley Mason attended the March 30 Workshop, presenting testimonial letters from Sunny Isles Tourism & Marketing Council Executive Director Ibis Romero and Haulover Lifeguard Captain Luiz Morizot-Leite.

Read letters:    Ibis Romero     Morizot-Leite

The City Commissioners noted they received about 70 letters supporting a c/o beach, and 10 opposed. As the Workshop progressed, we estimated that of the hundred-plus in the audience, about 40% were opposed to a c/o beach, or to the Smathers location. Alternate locations to Smathers were suggested.

No vote was expected at this Workshop; however, it was hoped this meeting would resolve remaining questions and lead to a vote at the next formal City Commission session. However, the City Commission instead requested that the City Manager meet with naturist interests to review possible new locations and report back.

So it should be noted that the issue is still moving forward, though at a slower pace than anticipated. Post-workshop discussions with several commissioners indicate there is still support for the idea, but some frustration due to the opposition expressed. We will report on future developements.

"It's apparent that commissioners want to receive more written support from voting residents of Key West before they give they give their whole-hearted endorsement for a city owned clothing-optional beach", states Shirley Mason, Executive Director of B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation.

The Masons spent the following day scouting out new and previously recommended beach sites and meeting with park managers.

Feb. 18, 2010: Designation imminent?

Alan Leigh of Florida Keys Free Beaches (FKFB) reports that Mayor Cates is ready to proceed to designating the east end of Smather's Beach as a clothing-optional area for a one-year trial period. Mayor Cates has notified FKFB that 4 designation signs will be needed.

A public commission workshop is scheduled for Tuesday March 30th on this issue. Naturists in the area should consider attending. Designation will require the vote of the mayor and at least 3 of the 6 city commissioners.

We request that no nude use be attempted prior to official designation.

Oct. 6, 2009: Key West Election Results

District 3: Former Commissioner Pais was an outspoken opponent of a c/o beach. We had supported Tom Lavender, a c/o beach supporter. Lavender was defeated by Billy Wardlow; the new commissioner has also said he will not support a c/o beach. No change here, and this is the worst news on our issue. But there is some good news...

Morgan McPherson lost his reelection bid as mayor. McPherson was a c/o beach opponent. The new mayor, Craig Cates, has said he would support a one-year trial of a c/o beach.

Wardlow is the only commissioner who is now on record that he would not consider a c/o beach. We now have 5 commissioners out of 6, and a mayor, who have not definitely ruled out a c/o beach.

Although the new Commission and Mayor may be judged more amenable to the c/o beach, continuing educational efforts by local naturists are essential to advancing the issue.

Issue background:

Preliminary discussions and planning in late 2008 / early 2009 by B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation and South Florida Free Beaches led to the organization of Florida Keys Free Beaches.

July, 2009: the naturist coalition advocated a direct vote by the commission on the c/o beach issue; this was moved by Commissioner Teri Johnston, but did not pass. Commissioner Verge proposed that the issue be put as a referendum on the upcoming October election; this was passed by a 4 to 2 vote.

August, 2009: the Key West City Commission voted to rescind the scheduled October citizen referendum on a clothing-optional beach.

This was not a totally negative result, because the wording of the referendum, if passed, still gave the Key West Commission an option of whether or not it would designate a beach. In other words, the referendum still returned the issue to the commission, which had earlier declined to act to create a clothing-optional beach by a direct vote.

Read more on the issue (PDF)