Only one ballot is accepted per a household.

Please contact us if there are any mistakes made on your ballot as referenced by the ballot number. All ballots cast were counted and signed off on by both pro-trail and no-trail individuals to ensure transparecy.

Statistical Calculation Summary

With a community size of 2,396 households, the poll had a participation rate of 17.32%. That is a greater than the percentage of St Johns County’s registered voters that voted in the 2024 primary. that outcome lead to the election of Clay Murphy, ourDistrict 3 Commissioner for St johns County.

To ensure a professional and accurate representation, the Finite Population Correction (FPC) factor was applied to the margin of error, which adjusts for the fact that a significant portion of the total population was surveyed.

Total Community Size: 2,396 households

Total Ballots Cast: 415 households

Participation Rate: $17.32\%$

Ballot pages show corrections to household ballots received on pages for any residences that had two ballots cast (5 marked “No” were removed from the total). Only one ballot is accepted per a household.

Please contact us if there are any mistakes made on your ballot decision. Additional dates and locations are being planned for this weekend.

The Results The community turned out to make their voices heard. The final count is as follows:

• Against Construction: 149 Households

• For Construction: 25 Households

A Transparent & Verified Process – To ensure the integrity of the ballots, a strict verification process was followed. Each household that participated received a numbered ballot to record their name, address, and vote.

Before casting their choice, residents signed their ballots and logged their specific ballot number next to their address on a master sheet. This ensured accuracy and prevented duplicate entries. All ballots were placed in a sealed box, which was opened and tallied in the presence of a St. Johns County Board Commissioner. Here is a PDF of the Voting Results confirmed by the number given on each voters ballot.

Clay Murphy reviewed each ballot twice to ensure validity before publicly announcing the results. The entire counting and verification process took approximately 30 minutes.

Make Your Voice Heard Online In addition to this resident vote, we strongly encourage everyone to participate in the official online survey provided by the county.

Media Contact: Concerned Neighbors of St. Augustine South

info@StAugSouthNews.com

St. Augustine, FL 32086

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — Concerned neighbors of St. Augustine South are calling for increased transparency and a reevaluation of the proposed Shore Drive trail project ahead of a critical public meeting. St. Johns County Commissioner Clay Murphy and representatives from the Parks and Recreation Department will present the trail proposal on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the SASIA Clubhouse (709 Royal Lane).

Residents have identified significant financial, environmental, and legal risks associated with the permanent paving of the neighborhood’s waterfront corridor. Key concerns include:

• Financial & Infrastructure Burdens: The project threatens to increase property assessments and taxes indefinitely. Furthermore, residents highlight a lack of allocated county funds for long-term maintenance, leaving the neighborhood to bear the costs of future upkeep and additional amenities.
• Environmental Degradation: The proposal involves placing tons of asphalt in a sensitive buffer zone. Independent Arborist Danny Lippe (ISA Board Certified Master Arborist #FL6145B) has disputed the County’s assessment of tree and shrub damage. Residents warn that removing vegetation—natural barriers against storm surge—will increase flood risks, erosion, and harmful runoff into the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).
• Safety and Public Access: With St Augustine attracting over 6 million visitors annually, residents fear the trail will draw overwhelming traffic to quiet residential streets and decrease safety. The current plan lacks adequate parking, potentially causing “overflow” issues at local boat ramps and private streets.
• Legal & Ownership Questions: Documents reveal that St. Johns County has been unable to produce a deed for the park property. In a January 2024 letter to Ryan Kane, the County Attorney noted that while easement rights exist, it remains “not clear who currently owns the underlying property.”

“This is a permanent change to our community that can never be unpaved. “We are facing a project that compromises our flood safety, increases our taxes, and invites massive tourism into a residential sanctuary—all on land where ownership remains in question.”

We’re urging all St. Augustine South residents to attend the February 11 meeting to demand answers regarding the project’s long-term impact on property values, safety, and ecological preservation.

Event Details:

• What: St. Johns County Trail Proposal Meeting
• When: February 11, 2026, at 5:30 PM

Where: SASIA Clubhouse, 709 Royal Lane, St. Augustine, FL 32086

Planned walking trail suddenly dead in St. Johns County – February 6, 2025

Prior to it being voted down, the county pushed hard to build the trail despite strong opposition of hundreds of households. The trail was delayed and finally canceled after community members raised environmental concerns, plans showed it being built over important archeological sites, legitimate questions regarding who owns the land, and the the county ignoring that the deed states it the park is to be preserved with no construction allowed. In addition problems came up regarding local, state, and federal regulations not being followed.

Residents urge revision of proposed trail project in St. Augustine South Shore Drive Park  – March 17, 2024

Shore Drive Pedestrian Safety Project Advances Despite Opposition. St Augustine’s Local Morning News – March 13, 2024

St. Johns Commission OKs divisive waterfront trail – March 5, 2024

St. Johns County approves controversial paved trail along Intracoastal Waterway

Trail of controversy: Proposed 3-mile paved trail in St. Augustine dividing neighbors – March 4, 2024

Proposed trail near the Intracoastal in St. Augustine creating controversy among neighbors

St. Augustine community divided on proposed paved trail along Shore Drive – February 15, 2024