HIGHLAND BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — The Town of Highland Beach is seeing what some condo owners contacting BocaNewsNow.com are calling a “significant number of people on our beaches,” despite the ongoing order to keep beaches closed.
Highland Beach sits just north of Boca Raton and South of Delray Beach. The short stretch of A1A — and the land around it — has its own police department. Many will tell you that their beaches are “private” and homeowners/condo-dwellers can do whatever they choose. But Palm Beach County says that isn’t so — and it seems elected officials in Highland Beach agree.
On the Highland Beach website is this, in boldface:
“PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BEACHES REMAIN CLOSED.”
We reached out to Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann to ask what residents are asking us: why are police permitting beach activity when it’s a violation of executive orders in effect?
The Chief was in an “emergency planning meeting” when we called — we have not yet received a response. It’s been several hours.
For those sending photos and calling BocaNewsNow.com, it’s not just an issue of people on the beach, it’s an issue of people coming from other parts of the area to use the beach in Highland Beach.
“We have a small police force,” said one condo owner. “Maybe people think the force is too small to patrol our beaches. It seems they may be right.”
