A countywide telephone survey of 403 Okaloosa County residents asked about preferences for the future of the state-acquired property on Holiday Isle in Destin, including what type of park approach respondents favor and how they feel about potential uses for the site’s existing dock system.

• The survey was conducted March 20–25 by Cherry Communications on behalf of the City of Destin using live calls. The sample was distributed roughly equally across all five county commission districts and carries a margin of error of ±4.9%.

Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner shared some of the results on social media March 26 and the city released the raw results and district-level crosstabs in their entirety.

How familiar residents are with the purchase

The survey’s first question read: “First, just to get a sense, how familiar are you with the State’s recent purchase of the 4 acres of vacant, waterfront land on Holiday Isle adjacent to the City of Destin’s Norriego Point Park and the East Pass? This land was purchased by the State for $83.3 million last year.”

About a third of respondents — 33.25% — said they were not aware of the purchase until the call. About 25.81% said they were very familiar, another 25.81% said they were somewhat familiar, and 14.89% said they had heard of it but did not know details.

• Familiarity was highest in District 5, which includes Destin, where 40.7% said they were very familiar. It was lowest in District 1, where 45.6% said they were not aware of it.

What type of park residents prefer

The survey’s second question asked, “Which type of park approach do you prefer overall?” Respondents were read five choices:

Combined, about 87.6% of respondents chose one of the two conservation-oriented options. The preference for some amenities while keeping the park mostly natural led in most districts, while Districts 3 and 5 were more evenly split between that option and keeping the park as natural as possible.

How residents feel about use of the existing docks

Three consecutive questions asked respondents about different potential uses for the property’s existing dock system, a 53-slip marina built in connection with a condominium project that was never constructed.

Each question was framed the same way, beginning with: “When it comes to future use of the existing docks, would you support or oppose…”

The first-come, first-served option drew the strongest support of the three at about 68%. The commercial marina question produced the widest margin in the survey, with about 75% opposed and about 16% in support. Opposition to the commercial marina was consistent across all five districts, ranging from about 70.9% in District 1 to 81.5% in District 5.

What residents consider most important

The survey’s final substantive question asked, “If improvements are considered to the new State Park, which of the following is most important to you? Please choose only one.”

Protecting the natural environment was the top choice across all five districts. Combined, limiting or prohibiting commercial activity accounted for about 24.82% of responses.

Demographics

The sample was nearly evenly split by gender, with 50.12% male and 49.88% female, as recorded by caller observation. Respondents were distributed roughly equally across BOCC districts, with about 20% from each. The largest zip code clusters were 32578/Niceville at 17.87%, 32547/Fort Walton Beach at 16.38%, 32536/Crestview at 12.16% and 32541/Destin at 10.67%.

Destin asks state for direct management role

Separately, the Destin City Council on March 16 adopted Resolution 26-05, formally requesting that the State of Florida authorize Destin to serve as the lessee and local managing entity for the Holiday Isle park property.

The resolution includes a commitment to invest up to $5 million in the property for what it describes as environmentally sensitive improvements, passive recreational amenities and long-term conservation management. It directs the city manager and city attorney to communicate the city’s interest to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, members of the local legislative delegation and other appropriate officials.

• The city had previously sought an interlocal agreement with Okaloosa County regarding the park’s management. The resolution asks the state directly to designate Destin as the managing entity.

The resolution states that the property is located entirely within Destin’s municipal boundaries, is surrounded by city infrastructure and residential neighborhoods, and is adjacent to the city’s Norriego Point Park, which carries a Conservation designation. It also states that the city’s Comprehensive Plan provides for a Conservation future land use designation that would be appropriate for the state park property. The resolution asks the state to reconsider or amend any prior management arrangements to allow Destin to assume stewardship.

City Attorney Kimberly Kopp told the council that as of March 16, the county does not have a legal interest or lease on the property and there is no approved management plan that the city is aware of.

Councilman Jim Bagby, who seconded the motion to approve the resolution, said the council had weighed three paths: the county continuing on its current course, a public partnership through an interlocal agreement, or a city-led effort.

“If you don’t work with us or you don’t agree to let us lead this effort, it will be 10 years before this is litigated and nobody will use that,” Bagby said, pointed at the county commission. He added that the $5 million commitment would have real consequences for the city’s other priorities. “That money does not exist. That money will come from something else. It will come from either the linear park or maybe not as many ball fields improved or whatever.”

Wagner said the city already manages 14 acres at the adjacent Norriego Point Park. “If we really are serious about efficiency of government, then why split a task into two different sectors of government when one is already doing a great job?” he said.

The resolution was approved unanimously by the council members present.