Tourist Development Office launches ‘Dodge the Dunes’ campaign in Flagler County, Florida
October 18, 2017 – Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches – Flagler County’s Tourist Development Office – launched an in-market campaign that its partners can use to help inform visitors about the importance of respecting the dunes to maintain the beach lifestyle that brings them here.
The public information campaign, “Dodge the Dunes,” strategically places messaging throughout Flagler County that will catch the attention of visitors and residents alike.
“Natural sand dunes play a much larger role in our community than the average beach-goer might expect,” said Amy Lukasik, who is both a Flagler County resident and the tourism and marketing director. “These wind-blown, golden dunes provide the first line of defense against storms and rough surf for homes, restaurants and hotels.”
Many of the inland waterways feed from coastal inlets, so all of Flagler County’s ecosystems are effected by the health of the dunes.
“After Hurricane Matthew, and now Irma, the community bounced back – businesses reopened and a temporary repair of State Road A1A was made,” Lukasik said. “But our dunes still needed a lot of help, and it was frustrating because it was out of our hands – we had to wait for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Environmental Protection to do something.”
Dodge the Dunes focuses on simple actions that can greatly improve the health of the dunes that line the ocean’s edge:
- Avoid walking, parking or driving on the dunes or vegetation on the east side of State Road A1A.
- Only access the beach using approved stairs and access points.
- Do not walk, slide, jump, or throw items down the dunes to the beach.
The campaign will also serve as the source for information and updates when the beach renourishment projects in Flagler County begin, as well as permanent reconstruction of State Road A1A and Flagler Beach’s pier. Updates will be posted to a dedicated website, www.dodgethedunes.com, and Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/dodgethedunes.
“Businesses and organizations are welcome to join the Dodge the Dunes cause,” Lukasik said. “Selected high-traffic businesses in Flagler Beach, like 7-Eleven, have agreed to distribute free bumper stickers to promote the campaign.”
Key businesses will receive a Dodge the Dunes kit, complete with an informational handbook and other resources and assets they can distribute at will. Some 10,000 drink coasters were printed for use in local restaurants, cafes and bars.
“We have made a significant financial investment in this campaign because of the importance of our dunes,” Lukasik said. “We intend to make the same investment this fiscal year.”
