Green Cove Neighborhood Frustrated By Dangerous Drivers

Residents Frustrated By Lack Of Help From Local Government

The Willow Springs subdivision sits right across the street from the newly built Spring Park Elementary, but residents say that dangerous driving has created hazardous conditions in the neighborhood.

Mady Canela, a resident of Willow Springs, provided Clay News & Views with multiple videos of reckless driving at an intersection in the neighborhood.

The above video is just one example of people blowing through a stop sign and speeding through the neighborhood. Here’s another:

In response to the dangerous driving conditions, Willow Springs residents contacted their Homeowners Association to determine what could be done. Unfortunately, options like speed bumps and other measures cannot be enacted by the HOA because the roads are owned by the county.

The problem, per the HOA, is the fact that the main road in Willow Springs connects to Shedd Road, which connects to Highway 17 near Garber Automall. As such, the road is being used as a convenient cut through to Green Cove Springs. When construction began on homes in the neighborhood, the county connected Willow Springs Drive to Shedd Rd to promote future development in the area despite concerns from local residents.

The Willow Springs HOA board members have attended multiple Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meetings over the past few years to express concerns over the unsafe driving conditions. And while the roads belong to the county, the BCC says that the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is responsible for keeping them safe, and any complaints should be sent to CCSO.

CCSO, when contacted by Clay News & Views, said that videos of incidents and calls from residents would not be enough to garner action for dangerous driving. Anyone with traffic safety concerns must fill out official reports before CCSO can take any action.

In the meantime, the HOA has used CCSO’s “Hire A Deputy” program to try and beef up police presence in the neighborhood. This solution is limited because the cost of hiring deputies is directly passed on to homeowners.

Until a solution is found, residents must fend for themselves, trying to protect themselves and prevent the dangerous roadways from causing a tragedy.