A Jacksonville man’s drowning raises concerns over retention pond safety. An attorney urges stronger measures, citing recurring incidents in the area.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The investigation continues after a 26-year-old man drowned Wednesday afternoon in a retention pond at the Coquina Bay Apartments on San Pablo Road, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Police have released few details about the circumstances surrounding the drowning and have not said how the man entered the water or what he was doing at the pond. The investigation remains ongoing.
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The incident has renewed discussion about retention pond safety in Jacksonville.
Attorney Adam Finkel, who represents several families whose children drowned in retention ponds, said the latest death highlights what he believes is a broader safety issue.
“It’s awful. I can only begin to imagine what that family must be feeling like, what the friends must be feeling like,” Finkel said.
Finkel said Jacksonville has seen too many retention pond drownings in recent years, many involving children. He believes a number of those deaths could have been prevented through stronger safety measures.
“Way too many of these drownings happening in Jacksonville over the last couple of years,” he said.
According to Finkel, some retention ponds are not properly maintained, some have steep banks that make it difficult for people to get out of the water, and some property owners place too much emphasis on appearance instead of safety.
“They’re not there for fishing. They’re not there for, you know, to look pretty. They’re there to deal with water runoff,” Finkel said.
He also argued that features such as benches near retention ponds can unintentionally attract people to potentially dangerous areas.
“They’re attracting people to these ponds. And they’re dangerous,” he said.
Finkel is advocating for additional safety measures, including fencing around retention ponds. However, Florida law does not require fencing if a retention pond meets applicable safety standards.
Jacksonville City Council member Ju’Coby Pittman said the city will continue advocating for stronger protections.
“We want to make sure that they know that the city is very concerned and that we will continue to advocate for laws that will protect families, as well as the apartment complexes,” Pittman said.
First Coast News reached out to the management of the Coquina Bay Apartments for comment about the drowning and questions regarding safety measures at the property. As of publication, the apartment complex had not responded.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has also released limited information about the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.