SINGER ISLAND, Fla. 9CBS12)

Palm Beach County leaders recently approved spending more than $1 million for a beach nourishment project on Singer Island that lacked public access, but thats about to change after a judges ruling.

The surreal setting of Singer Island is where crystal clear waters meet the calming sands of serenity. Its beautiful, but good luck getting to parts of it since theres nearly two-miles of beach without public access.

CBS12 found a public pathway to the beach off North Ocean Drive thats impassible. The vegetation prevents the public from reaching the sand and shore.

Singer Island property owner and activist Fane Lozman recently filed a lawsuit against the city trying to get easement opened back up. The city never maintained it, this is what you have left, he said.

A judge agreed and directed the city to rebuild and maintain it. The ruling comes just weeks after the county completed a $1.4 million project to bring 50,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach.

Public tax dollars have been used all these years, have been spent to make private improvements to what is a private beach here and the court did the right thing, Lozman said.

Several people who live in the beachfront condos along the easement tell CBS12 theyre now concerned, especially for their safety.

I think itll be detrimental to the community here, Sharon Leiman said. This is more of a private area and I really like it to remain that way.

The City of Riviera Beach did not respond to CBS12 for comment.

See the rest here:

Public access to beaches on Singer Island - WPEC