TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Pedros rocks have been removed

Cedrick has posted a video on his page of the rock barrier that seperated the dark side from Club O beach being removed. No explanation. The end of the nude beach ? Certainly hope not.

Knowing who was behind removing the rocks would be key to know....

Id say just an end to rocks. Bit of a hazard all along.

Can you please give us the info for Cedrics page?

a simple google search brings it up. I am not a friend of Cedric or Club Orient and I typed Club Orient Cedric and brought up this:
https://www.facebook.com/clubobeach/

In reviewing the video it appears to me the removal was of the rock wall barrier that surrounded Pedro's and not the rock jetty. If I remember, Pedro's was elevated above the beach and ocean, and the rocks were around the perimeter on three sides. I also remember the staircase on the ocean side, which enabled you to climb up without climbing on the wet rocks. Perhaps someone has a new use for the rocks? Or the large rocks will be replaced and reused for a new Pedro's?? But anyone guess on the eventual outcome.

Glad they are gone. Makes for a nice long unobstructed beach.

Did anyone ask him why they were removed? You would think that he would know.

In the video, he says that he doesn't know why they are being removed, but will give an update.

Oh, ok, thanks.

Don’t see any where here where it mentions Papagayo’s sea wall being removed but evidently it is.

Here is the link to the article in French on StMartinWeek:
https://www.stmartinweek.fr/2020/05...ur-du-littoral-et-de-la-population/78814

The reason for the work, which is budgeted at 100,000 euros, is beach restoration. The intent is to remove a few storm-damaged buildings near the shore, as well as the rocks in front of Pedro's and Papagayo, to restore the beach to its natural condition.

The article notes, "L’ensemble de ces travaux ont fait l’objet de discussions avec les futurs exploitants, riverains et gestionnaires (Club Orient, Collectivité)." Translation: "All of this work was the subject of discussions with future business owners, residents, and managers (Club Orient, Community)."

A translation
The Conservatoire du littoral continues its actions in favour of the littoral and the population
BY AUTRE14 MAY 2020 0

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
At the end of 2019, the Conservatoire du littoral launched a call for projects for a reversible catering area and the rental of beach equipment on the site of Orient Bay beach and more specifically at “Chez Pedro” and “ Club Orient ”.

November 19, 2018
The prerequisite for the installation of the selected candidates is that the Conservatory must carry out restoration work on the beach strongly impacted by the passage of Irma in order to offer future operators a clean site and also to facilitate pedestrian traffic. on this public beach cluttered with numerous rocks which separate the beach from the adjoining plot.

Work progress:

Removal of rocks at “Chez Pedro” and “Papagayo”;
Removal of the remains of the building which housed the toilets;
Removal of the remains of Club Orient watersports located on the Conservatory plot;
Removal of the boat hull positioned in the vegetation;
Removal of the remains of rubble,
Removal of all waste located in the area.
The works started as soon as the containment was lifted, Monday, May 11. The commitments and administrative documents were prepared before and during the confinement, thus enabling the local company retained to resume activity as soon as the confinement ends.

A study on sedimentological movements and currents in the bay will be carried out with the BRGM in order to follow the evolution of this beach, which has undergone very strong erosion in this sector during the last decades after the installation of riprap.

A low fence (in boat rope) will delimit the public domain assigned to the Coastal Conservatory and accessible to all private land located at the back. At the end of the installation of the operator of the reversible restoration area, plantings will be carried out in order to improve the integration of the structure in the landscape.

All of this work was the subject of discussions with future operators, residents and managers (Club Orient, Community).

 At the end of these beach restoration works, the area should regain all its natural splendor.

May 13, 2020
Total cost of the works (estimate): 100,000 euros, which should benefit from State support through the Convergence Contract.

Interesting that Club O watersports was apparently not on Club O property.

Now we have the Herald article which explains the rationale for the removal. Yes all the barriers have been removed. There are photos on Jeff Bergers Everything St Martin page. No mention of eliminating the clothing optional section of the beach. I would imagine there will be some sort of demarcation between the two.

OK............ Just a thought . No more rocks ....... Where will the legend read his book !!!! LOL Jeff

Thank you for the information Hdrdr911, I appreciate you taking the time to post.

Best comment on the thread!!

I doubt that removing the rocks will eliminate the clothing optional area of the beach.

Maybe use some of the rocks to enhance the reef just to the south of Pedros?

Thanks GaKaye . My mind went right to the LEGEND , when I heard the rocks have been removed . I must be messed up !! Jeff

Lol I guess size really does matter to some. Not thats ever been a problem for me. Jus sayin . Lol

A few well placed signs should do the trick. Kind of like Haulover Beach near Miami. Something like: "Notice: You may (will) encounter nude sunbathers past this point." That should do it. On the Balearic Island of Mallorca, Spain the famous Es Trench beach has a large nude section right in the middle of it. No signs indicating this, nothing. No one seems to notice or even care. First time my wife and I walked the shore there we were strolling along when she said to me "check this out. Everyone's naked." I looked around and said "yep, isn't that great!" Soon, we were back among the people on the textile beach and the transition was totally seamless (no pun intended). I seriously doubt that the clothing-optional portion of Orient Beach will ever go away. It's part of the culture of St. Martin, and in my opinion I wish more of the great beaches around the world had clothing-optional sections.

In the past Ocean Beach, Fire Island built a rock jetty from the shoreline out 20 feet into the ocean. It actually was a terrible idea because the Army Corp of Engineers pointed out that it caused massive beach erosion.

If I'm not mistaken nudity is permitted on all the beaches in Spain. We encountered it in Gijon; no specific nude sections, just nude people every here and there.

That's correct, Georgia though from my travels it is rare to see fully nude individuals mixing in on most public beaches. But, it does happen. Most French and Spanish beaches have areas known for nudity, and most people who wish to sunbathe in that manner usually stick to those areas. In regards to the future of Orient Beach who can really say, but a strict line of demarcation may become a thing of the past on Orient. I'd be okay with that, because the more attention that is drawn to this the more people overreact. I always thought it was kind of odd when I was on the Club O. beach in the past, and decided to walk up to Pedro's or Kakao for a drink or a snack. Sure enough, I would stop dead in my tracks at 'the rocks' and put on my swimsuit so I could proceed!