More than 1,500 people sign petition to reopen Huguenot Park

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — More than 1,500 people have signed a petition to reopen Huguenot Park after Hurricane Matthew caused major damage to the popular Jacksonville hangout.

The petition was started on Thursday and quickly met its original goal of 1,000 signatures.

Hurricane Matthew videos from the Jacksonville area that you have to watch

"They say our beach is gone, but how can this be?" the petition says. "They say it can't be fixed yet the city has been allotted emergency funds to rebuild."

The City of Jacksonville said the park is closed because of the damage from Matthew but will reopen when repairs are complete.

"The jetties have been around for all of my 50 years and more before," the petition says. "We can't let them just shut our memories down. If we get enough signatures maybe we can force the city and state to rebuild our beach."

Comments from people who shared their memories of the park and jetties on the petition page show how much the place means to the community.