David Plummer’s family settled in Palm Valley more than a century ago ― he’s a Mickler on his mom’s side. He liked to fish, and the dead end of Canal Boulevard west of Roscoe Boulevard had always been used as a fishing spot, but it wasn’t always safe.
Plummer grew up in Palm Valley fishing along “the ditch.” Back in 1972, boaters could fuel up from the water at Palm Valley Landing when the closest store was Pantry Pride in Jacksonville Beach. Since then, all that remained was a rough road that dead ended at a seawall. Plummer called the unimproved site a hazard that dropped off into sharp oyster beds and metal with no way to exit the water. Currently, most access to the Intracoastal Waterway along Roscoe Boulevard is closed to the public. Plummer wanted to change that.
He mentioned his vision for a safe recreational area on the water to Deb Chapin, founder of the Ponte Vedra Greenway Alliance and a member of the St. Johns County Recreation Advisory Board. According to Chapin, the alliance has a mission to build a safe, multi-use recreational path to sites like Mickler’s Wharf, eventually creating a walkable loop to connect the wharf, Sawgrass Village, Mickler’s Landing at the beach and Guana park trails.
Plummer, who owns Outback Marine Construction, provided labor and Chapin went to work to secure grants. When the project was made public, businesses and individuals approached Plummer and offered their help – some with monetary donations, others with in-kind support.
The official ribbon cutting to open the dock took place Nov. 8 with several of the stakeholders on hand.
“It’s a small park, but it’s a place maker,” State Representative Cyndi Stevenson said. She described the scenery as “powerful,” and sees it as a place where people will bring the kids, take photographs and even paint.
“We’d be doing this (ribbon cutting) a year from now if it was all up to me,” Plummer said. “If ever there was a definition of a community project, this is it.”
Plummer worked to secure permits from the Corps of Engineers and Chapin worked with St. Johns County officials and the University of Florida Sea Grant program. There were many hoops to jump through along the way.
“David’s passionate and he followed through when, at times, it seemed like we were being squashed,” Chapin said.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, Mickler family members from near and far gathered for a reunion to celebrate the opening of Mickler’s Wharf. Surrounded by several generations, David Plummer and his mom, Merline Mickler-jobes, dedicated the dock.
“I dedicate this to Palm Valley citizens old and new, and hope we enjoy it for the next 100 years,” Plummer said.
