Residents Raise Concern About Debris in Sand Ahead of Holiday

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is one of the most popular times of the year for families to head to the beach. But its what's in the sand in some areas that has many residents concerned.

Residents in the normally quiet town of Surfside were making their voices heard on this holiday weekend. A group of protestors were calling change after the NBC 6 Investigators revealed potential dangers in the sand in Surfside and on Miami Beach.

The lawyer for the developer who put the sand on Miami Beach that had glass, nails, other construction items, tells NBC 6 that situation in the area of Collins Avenue between 57th and 52nd Street has been for the most part cleared up. And state records show progress has been made there. Its in Surfside where these protestors were sending out a warning to anyone thinking about spending the holiday at the beach.

Residents say at the height of the time they'd like to use the beach, they're staying away. They shared photos that they say show the danger: nails, rocks and debris from a construction site are ending up in the surf and sand.

"Its a hazard. I have not taken my toddler to this beach in over 400 days," said Surfside resident Larisa Alonso. "Why? I am afraid he will step on a nail and get tetanus. Why should a visitor come here, why should a world wide traveler come here to Surfside and visit us if they could potentially get tetanus and visit the emergency room?"

The town says the debris came from a condo development called the Surf Club on Collins.

"Right now they are not in compliance... because the debris that was shown to be in the area and the fact that the town itself has asked for removal of the sand and replacement of the sand." said Surfside City Manager Guillermo Olmedillo.

The Surf Club told NBC 6 it "has, and will continue to, diligently follow all of the State of Florida’s requirements regarding the excavation and transfer of compatible sand onto the beach, keeping the best interests of our beach, its inhabitants, and our shared community in mind."

"They've stalled and stalled and stalled, and now they're using two turtle nest as the reason to do nothing until November," said resident Jeff Platt.

The state's environmental rules to protect the turtle nests that are on the beach are strict so the developer told us their teams to fix the problem can't bring any heavy equipment onto the sand.
The developer and the state are coming up with a plan to put the beach in the condition its supposed to be, but it appears executing that plan is gong to take some time.

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