Green Cove Springs City Dock is on the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Palatka. This facility should NOT be confused with Green Cove Springs Marina, which sits a bit farther upstream, in the heart of the old Navy Base.
As for Capt. Hoskins’ experience described below, we can’t be really sure this is a shakedown or a miscommunication, since Green Cove Spring’s municipal website, as well as a confirming phone call made by the SSECN to City Hall, lists charges only for overnight stays. See below. Accordingly, Capt. Hoskins should NOT have been charged for daytime use without electric or water.

This is an excerpt from the Green Cove Springs website which clearly states that: “There is no fee if a boat stays all day and uses no electric and/or water”.

The City Pier provides a gateway to the City of Green Cove Springs by way of the St. Johns River. The pier provides a centrally located covered pavillion with handrails that are handicap accessible. The 12 floating finger boat slips allow visitors to dock and explore the City of Green Cove Springs.
Boat Slip Information:

$10.00 – Overnight Stay
$10.00 – Use of Electric and/or Water

Maximum stay is 48 hours. If a boat stays overnight and uses no electric and/or water the fee will be $10.00 per day. If a boat stays overnight and also uses the electric and/or water the fee is $20.00 per day. There is no fee if a boat stays all day and uses no electric and/or water. Overnight fees are based upon use from after dusk and until dawn.

http://www.greencovesprings.com Go to “Parks and Recreation”, then to “City Pier”

Cruising News:
Chief of police in Green Cove Springs,Fl. and his officers are demanding 10.00 daily dock fee for dinghy or boat if they think you are a live aboard even though signs are posted for overnight and utility usage only. Today I complained to city manager and am awaiting news of actual statute or “resolution” pertaining to this now old shakedown tactic for money that is not posted on any sign at the dock. It happens that the police station is in Spring Park right near the docks so they keep an eye out for potential “victims”. Beware…
Alan Hoskins

It seems that I am caught up in a discriminatory battle between the city of Green Cove Springs and its corporate statute enforcers and the live-aboards who have remained at anchor off the city in the St. Johns River in the quaint cove to the south of the city public docks for a period deemed `too long’ by the powers that claim to be. I have been denied use of a public dock for the reason stated above unless I pay a fee that is not required by the general public and that is designed to force me to comply or leave the area which feels and seems to be the case. This is clearly a case of the NIMBY syndrome (not in my backyard) that is causing Fl. to enforce statutes that are not even on the books. We as a species are devolving not evolving and are acting as territorial baboons fighting for existence! Folks when you buy a box on the waterfront and hook it up to the grid and dull your mind in front of the boob tube, try to remember that you only bought the box, you did not buy the view out of your window because I am in it and I am not for sale! Best Regards’¦../)’¦’¦
Alan Hoskins

Click Here To Read More Information about Green Cove Springs City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Green Cove Springs City Dock