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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
- Okaloosa County looks to transform Eglin Beach Park into a year-round destination as the SS United States readies for its historic journey to become an artificial reef. Meanwhile, the county invests in its waterfront with $4.6M for Veterans Park shoreline restoration and commits $2.1M to Niceville’s multi-use path.
PARKS+REC
Okaloosa seeks to operate, upgrade Eglin Beach Park into year-round public recreation spot
The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners approved sending a letter of intent to Eglin Air Force Base on Tuesday to explore managing and operating Eglin Beach Park near the Destin Bridge.
- The park, which currently operates as a military-only facility, is open for approximately eight hours daily during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The site includes 140 paved parking spaces, two restroom facilities, four pavilions, ADA access, boardwalks and a large deck area.
Chairman Paul Mixon said the county plans several improvements to enhance the facility.
- “There’s some facility improvements and also limited parking improvements that need to take place,” Mixon said. “It’s not a guarded beach, so we would definitely be bringing lifeguards. The concessions are limited and so we would be bringing a more robust concession schedule.”
The park would operate year-round from sunrise to sunset under county management, rather than the current limited summer schedule.
A key feature of the plan involves implementing paid parking, with revenues benefiting military recreation. “That paid parking is what would be used to enhance some of the recreational activity within their military community because they would be able to use it for projects that they have on base,” Mixon said.
The park’s unique location offers distinct advantages for public access, according to Mixon.
- “Unlike any other beach access that we have throughout the county, this does not have a hotel, lodging facility or a condominium within walking distance,” he said. “So this will be a drive-up or potentially a bike-to, with the new bike path that’s to come.”
The project will be funded through tourist development dollars rather than general funds, with costs expected to be front loaded by tourism development and repaid over time.
Mixon emphasized the significance of the growing partnership between the county and Eglin AFB.
- “We’re doing things now as a county with our military partners that have never been done before,” he said. “The value of this partnership is stellar, and it’s something that our county and our communities have never seen before.”
The county is pursuing both an Intergovernmental Support Agreement for operations and a 30-year lease agreement to allow for capital improvements. Any final agreements would require approval from both military leadership and county commissioners.
The project follows last year’s letter of intent regarding the adjacent East Pass Park, known locally as “Redneck Beach,” which has been closed since 2020.
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PARKS+REC
Okaloosa County approves $4.6M Veterans Park shoreline restoration project
The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners approved a $4.6 million contract with Empire Builders Group, Inc. for the Veterans Park Shoreline Restoration project, with officials citing the need to protect the park from future storm damage.
- “We need to reinforce that shoreline to protect against erosion when we have another hurricane,” said Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, whose district includes Veterans Park. “This living shoreline is going to stabilize the beachfront there so it will continue to be an asset that can be used by the community.”
The extensive restoration project includes construction of 16 breakwaters, two boardwalk sections with curb ramps and concrete sidewalk, and comprehensive saltmarsh enhancement and creation areas. The work will feature both standard and integrally colored concrete sidewalk, raised timber boardwalk with composite decking, earthwork, and saltmarsh restoration plantings.
Empire Builders Group emerged as the winning contractor among five bidders, with three deemed responsive and responsible. The company submitted the lowest responsive bid, leading to an Intent to Award issued on January 10, 2025.
- “We’ve been trying to get this money from three different sources all worked out and we finally got it so we’re ready to move on it,” Ketchel said. “I’m very excited about this project!”
The project combines funding from multiple sources, including a $1.5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), with $1.475 million allocated specifically for construction.
- Additional funding includes $1.529 million from a RESTORE grant through the Gulf Consortium, and $804,572 in Tourist Development District (TDD) funds. Previous TDD funds were used for boardwalk construction, leaving a balance of $810,593.
“This is a win for the entire community, because we’re using tourist development dollars in large part to continue to improve this 20.5 acres while leaving it in a natural state where the birds and the wildlife that are there continue to thrive,” Ketchel said.
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PARKS+REC
Okaloosa approves $2.1M for Niceville multi-use path project
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved $2.1 million in additional funding Tuesday for a multi-use path project along College Boulevard and Forest Road, addressing increased construction costs for the transportation initiative.
- The 2.486-mile path will stretch from the intersection of Palm Boulevard and College Boulevard to the intersection of Forest Road and Rocky Bayou Drive, providing safe connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists in the Niceville area.
The project has a current construction cost estimate of $4.45 million with contingency, building upon the initial $3 million budget that included a $1.5 million Florida Department of Transportation grant matched by $1.5 million in county funds.
- The newly approved $2.1 million will cover this increase and provide $615,000 for construction engineering and inspection services.
The project design is complete, but construction requires final coordination with Eglin Air Force Base since College Boulevard runs through federal property under an easement agreement.
“We continue to work with Eglin to get the final little dots on the agreement for constructing out there,” said Public Works Director Jason Autrey during Tuesday’s meeting. “We just have to make sure that we comply with their rules.”
- The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee recommended the additional funding at their January 9 meeting. Any unused funds will return to Surtax Reserves.
The project originated in August 2022 when commissioners approved initial funding for design and traffic studies. The path aims to enhance safety at intersections around Northwest Florida State College while providing alternative transportation options for students and residents.
COASTAL RESOURCES
SS United States to depart Philadelphia on journey to become World’s Largest Artificial Reef
Okaloosa County announced today that all necessary safety requirements have been met to relocate the legendary vessel from its long-time berth in Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama.
- The historic move will begin with a short transfer to Pier 80 on February 6, followed by the ship’s departure down the Delaware River early Saturday morning. She will be chaperoned by multiple tug boats as she makes her way down the Delaware River and into the Atlantic Ocean.
The 990-foot vessel, which has called Philadelphia home since 1996, will undergo approximately 12 months of preparation in Mobile before its ultimate deployment as an artificial reef approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.
The extensive preparation process includes the removal of hazardous materials and modifications to ensure the ship will rest upright on the seafloor.
When deployed, the SS United States will surpass the USS Oriskany, an 888-foot aircraft carrier sunk off Pensacola in 2006, as the world’s largest artificial reef. The project aims to create new marine habitats while preserving the legacy of this historic vessel, which still holds the transatlantic speed record set during its maiden voyage in 1952.
- To maintain the ship’s historical significance, Okaloosa County will partner with the SS United States Conservancy to develop a land-based museum in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The museum will feature iconic components from the ship, including its distinctive funnels and radar mast, along with the Conservancy’s extensive collection of artifacts and archives.
The journey to Mobile is expected to take approximately two weeks, with multiple tugboats escorting the vessel along its route through the Delaware River and into the Atlantic Ocean. The public can follow the ship’s progress through GPS tracking available on the Destin-Fort Walton Beach website.
This development marks a new chapter for the vessel, which has faced numerous challenges since its retirement from active service in 1969. The ship, known as “America’s Flagship,” carried four U.S. presidents and countless celebrities during its service life, while maintaining the capability to be converted into a troop transport capable of carrying 14,000 military personnel.
Once deployed, the artificial reef is expected to attract diverse marine life, from red snapper to wahoo, creating new opportunities for both fishing and diving activities in the region.
The project represents a unique combination of historic preservation and environmental conservation, ensuring that the SS United States will continue to serve a valuable purpose while preserving its remarkable legacy for future generations.
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