Fifty-seven years ago today, Silver Beach Wayside Park was officially dedicated in Destin at a 5 p.m. ceremony, with Miss Silver Beach Peep Gassman unveiling the plaque and State Road Commissioner Jay Brown serving as the guest speaker.
- The dedication was a community celebration, with Crestview’s James Lee – the State Road Board member who introduced Commissioner Brown – helping to unveil the park sign.
According to newspaper coverage at the time, the wayside park had already been open for several weeks and was “being used to capacity” even before all facilities were completed.
State Road Board chairman Michael O’Neil noted the public’s enthusiasm, saying “Actually, people began using the park before all the facilities were completed. We are glad to see such great acceptance of the recreation facilities we provide for the public.”
Following the dedication, the Destin Chamber of Commerce sponsored a public fish fry, making it a true community celebration.
- The park’s journey continued when the state transferred it to Okaloosa County in May 1981, and it was eventually renamed James Lee Park – honoring the very same James Lee who had helped dedicate it in 1968. (As I’m sure you are aware, there are also roads named after James Lee in the area)
Today: James Lee Park remains a beloved community asset, offering swimming, fishing, multiple pavilions, restrooms and a beautiful beachfront with multiple access points. With 170 parking spaces and six handicapped parking spaces, it serves as the only Okaloosa County-maintained park in Destin.
Historical Context: This park is often confused with the Newman C. Brackin Wayside Park on Okaloosa Island (both parks have a Crab Trap Restaurant). Wayside parks were part of a broader mid-20th century movement to create small roadside recreational areas – as evidenced by a 1952 county resolution requesting a similar wayside park in northern Okaloosa County.
Big thanks to Okaloosa Public Information Office Nick Tomecek and local historian Gareth Stearns for their help in sourcing documents and details for this story.
