1 month after Hurricane Matthew, Mickler's Beach opens just for this weekend

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A month after Hurricane Matthew slammed Northeast Florida, counties are still trying to cleanup the aftermath.

On Saturday, St. Johns County reopened Mickler’s Landing Beach to the public so people can enjoy the beach. Mickler’s Beach may look different the next time you visit. Many beachgoers told us this area will forever be changed.

“It devastating, really devastating," Leif Noren said.

For the first time since Matthew pounded the Florida Coast, beachgoers are getting a close-up look of what is left and the trash that’s floated to shore.

“There’s buckets, wood pilings and fence posts. You don’t see too much of it in the water, but it’s definitely a noticeable change,” Noren said.

Just for this weekend, St. Johns County is opening up the beach to allow people to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer, but the cleanup will resume Monday. 

The Mickler's Landing public parking lot is being used as a staging area to clean up debris and to store equipment. Dozens of front loaders will be used on the beach from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every week day until the area of restoration is completed..

Contractors are working from Mickler's Beach along the shore to Guana to clear debris.

Starting Monday, Mickler's Beach will be closed to the public again, so crews can finish the cleanup process. They're expecting it to be done by Wednesday.

Cox Media Group