Kenny Chesney Visits Jacksonville Reefs He Helped Bring to Life

Kenny Chesney is well known as a sea-loving beach bum, and now he has given back to the waters that have inspired some of his greatest hits by helping build man-made reefs to revive sea life in Jacksonville, Fla.

Before his sold-out Florida Country Superfest show in the coastal town on June 14, Chesney was able to visit two new reefs built through funding from his Costa del Mar sunglasses line in partnership with the Coastal Conservation Association/Building Conservation Trust in Jacksonville’s St. John River.

The Coastal Conservation Association and George Holt Reefs are designed to promote the quality of aquatic life in the area, and were built out of 1,300 tons of concrete in a two-week time frame to minimize disruption of the wildlife. The reefs measure 200’ X 200’ each, and have already made a significant difference just a year and a half after completion.

“Looking at the underwater sonar, it’s amazing,” Chesney marvels in a news release. “In only 18 months, these reefs aren’t just alive, they’re thriving with life. As a guy who has so many of my happiest memories on the water, I couldn’t be happier to be a part of creating something like this in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, the people at the Coastal Conservation Association and the sales of my line of sunglasses with Costa Del Mar."

The reefs are easily accessible by boats, just 20 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. They provide a much-needed habitat and improved fishing in the area.

“It’s so easy to take the oceans and waterways for granted,” Chesney muses. “What they were able to create here says a lot about the ways man can live not just in harmony, but supporting our natural aquatic resources. Beyond clean water, it is about supporting healthy marine life... and that includes being aware of the impact of erosion under the water.”

Chesney is also slated to be the headliner at the 2016 Florida Country Superfest and continues to tour the country as part of his The Big Revival Tour. He’s also set to be the headliner at next year’s Taste of Country Music Festival. His second duet with indie folk-rocker Grace Potter, “Wild Child," recently hit No. 1, making the song Potter’s first No. 1 ever and a unique addition to country radio this summer.

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