ORANGE PARK – While branches, logs and other debris in Johnson Slough and Dudley Branch create backlogs that prevent water from running freely at the neighborhood bordering Doctors Lake and Rob Bradley Park at Nelson Point, trees dangerously leaning towards one resident’s house created a more immediate concern.

He said it gave him no choice but to hire a tree surgeon.
The trees on the town-owned property at Johnson Slough, the toe line of his property, pool and home, are on Nelson Drive.
“I didn’t want to break wetlands laws, but these trees will fall and kill my kids,” Chad Dew said.
It’s an area where some trees, deemed as “widow makers” by Dew and Tyler Jacquin, a longtime resident, could present danger to nearby houses.
Dew said he had no other choice but to have the trees removed.
He said one tree already fell over on his neighbor’s property and dangerously fell next to his neighbor’s house while a limb hit the house. He pitched in to help by fixing her decking and shingles.
Dew said he spent $2,000 to pay for the town’s property repairs.
Town Manager Sarah Campbell said Public Works removed one tree leaning over his pool because they were concerned about it.
“They cut the tops of the limbs off, and they didn’t come back after that,” he said.
The town got frustrated with Dew after he dropped the logs in the creek. According to Campbell, a Town Public Works crew had to return to retrieve the logs jammed in the ditch.
Dew said the town needs to spend more time in the area.
“They definitely need to do something out here and spend a little more time. I did (most) of the work myself,” he said.
Orange Park said it is trying its best in the flood-prone area and that some portions of the low-lying swampland are hard or nearly impossible to reach. A new $7 million grant will address culverts at four locations.
The Public Works’ Stormwater Program only has three full-time employees and is tasked with several other duties.
In an area inhabited by woodpeckers, turtles, otters, beavers, birds and fish, trash is another concern.
The creek’s water flow is based on tides, which can bring in old debris and beer cans. It could happen at any time.
“My boys and I pick up trash every day. We go walking, and there is tons and tons of trash out there, old bottles and (other items),” Dew said.
Dew said he rarely got a return phone call in the past seven months, but Campbell had a different perspective.
“Mr. Dew’s situation is complicated. He has come here to see me before. I’ve called and emailed him and have not heard back from him. We’ve had some ongoing frustrations with (Dew),” she said.
She said the resident also has multiple code violations, like putting up a fence and chopping down trees without a permit.
According to Town Public Works Director Kyle Croce, his decision to float the logs down the creek created even more blockage that negatively affected the waterway.
“Cutting down the trees and leaving the debris (in the creek) that we can’t get to creates a huge problem. It causes flooding, and the biggest thing that flows down in a certain location stops up the water and actually gives beavers material to build their dams. It stops the water,” he said.
But Dew maintains his position, saying the leaning trees posed a safety issue.

“I’m the one that cleared this out and made this better,” he said.
On nearby Nelson Drive South, another problem exists – an electrical line that leans approximately five feet off the ground across the street from Rob Bradley Park.
“It’s very easily touchable by a child,” said Bridgett Dew.
The power line is the responsibility of the Jacksonville Electric Authority, Campbell said.
Jacquin, a resident who loves the area, is concerned with trees at Johnson Slough, which is a bird sanctuary, he said.
“It’s a bird sanctuary. Let’s get rid of these diseased trees so they don’t spread to the other ones and don’t kill people from falling. If you walk through the area, on your fingers and toes, you can count how many trees are dead and are full of holes. There’s plenty of work and resources. There’s no excuse for this. Why is this not done? It’s such a nice area, but particular aspects need to be fixed,” Jacquin said.
The town has been acquiring properties on Dudley Branch and Johnson Slough since 2020, which were privately owned.
“In 2020, we started our acquisitions, and we bought a couple of parcels every year,” Campbell said.
She said that Orange Park has acquired eight to 10 parcels on both Dudley Branch and Johnson Slough.