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DESTIN: More public beach will soon be a reality as groundbreaking ceremony set to take place

➡️ The “Gateway to Crystal Beach” is now on its way to becoming a reality thanks to the partnership between the City of Destin, the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and Trust for Public Land. 🗓 The public is invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Shore at Crystal […]

➡️ The “Gateway to Crystal Beach” is now on its way to becoming a reality thanks to the partnership between the City of Destin, the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and Trust for Public Land.

🗓 The public is invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Shore at Crystal Beach Park Expansion on Monday, April 12th at 10 a.m., located at 2964 Scenic Highway 98.

“This initiative is one of the highest priorities for the City of Destin. Our tourist tax dollars are being reinvested back into public beach so that we can deliver on the promise of the Destin brand and meet the expectations of our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Gary Jarvis. 

💰 The City of Destin has pledged $9,000,000 and Okaloosa County $13,000,000 for potential beach acquisitions to expand beach access in Destin. The Trust for Public Land, which the City of Destin has partnered with to aide in the process, has negotiated to purchase three properties adjacent to the Shore of Crystal Beach Park. Two have closed with a third pending.

💵 The combined cost of these acquisitions is $10.6 Million plus some ancillary closing costs which are estimated under $50,000. Funding for the initial set of acquisitions is proposed to be funded with the following ratio — 59% County ($6.28+ Million) and 41% City ($4.37- Million), based on the dollars pledged by the city and the county. The County’s funding comes from the tourism bed tax dollars while the City’s comes from ½ cent sales tax dollars.

“We recognize the desire for more beach access,” said Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners Chairman, Carolyn Ketchel. “Through this acquisition and partnership, we can accommodate the need for our community to enjoy the beaches year-round.”

➡️ The groundbreaking ceremony will be the first step in creating more access to public beach for residents and visitors. Following demolition, the partners will fine tune park elements, according to a press release.

Completion of the project is anticipated for the main 2021 tourism season. 

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“Are there any other chances to get Thanksgiving dinner delivered for 4 to my home? I would be very grateful..”
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“Would be nice to hear Matt Gaetz addressing his District 1 voters he left in dust. Unless I missed it somehow.”
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“The Big U! The NMU supplied the unlicensed crew and when we lost this ship and its jobs and when U.S. Lines went bankrupt, we were on our way to...”
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“Highschool is finna be more crowed now. We need another highschool not a middle or elementary school.”
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“This is bittersweet. I spent a wonderful week in Cay Sal Banks on the Pilot in 2006. I will have to go pay her a visit soon....”
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“I agree with Jerome. What will this accomplish since both ends are only 4 lanes?”
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“The parking lot at McGuires would disappear along with the parcel that Destin purchased at the bridge.. Flooding on Okaloosa Island would close an expensive update to 98 , at...”
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“This will not make a difference for traffic passing through the center of Destin along Rt. 98. The smart option is to complete the Brooks Bridge and intersection in Ft...”
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