PARK UPGRADE

Damaged boat launch and pier damaged in Hurricane Sally finally repaired

On Monday, the City of Fort Walton Beach announced that the boardwalk, pier and boat launch repairs and improvements are now complete at Liza Jackson Park.

• These areas of the park were severely damaged during Hurricane Sally.

Additionally, the repairs were accompanied by a few upgrades that include a new kayak launch for the park.

According to the city, the renovations to the park was paid for by FEMA.

BEACH ACCESS

Destin and Okaloosa working to purchase final parcel for new Crystal Beach park

During Monday night’s Destin City Council meeting, Council-member Dewey Destin asked for a status update on the Shore at Crystal Beach Park. 

• You’ll remember that as part of the expansion, the City of Destin & Okaloosa County both ponied up money to purchase three properties adjacent to the existing public beach access in order to provide 251 feet of linear beach.
• Two of the properties have been acquired.

In response to Mr. Destin’s question, Deputy City Manager Webb Warren stated that both he and the city’s attorney, along with the TDC and Okaloosa County, are working together to get the third parcel secured. 

“We think we’re drawing close to a conclusion on that,” said Warren to Destin.

Back in August 2020, Get The Coast reported that the city might not close on the final parcel until sometime in 2021 unless the owner was able to timely secure another investment property, for tax implication purposes. 

As for the design of the park, that will all depend on what happens with securing the final piece of property, but the county does have some draft plans. 

“We do have some draft plans,” said Warren. “The county, as part of the inter-local agreement, is working on some plans for that park. At this time, they are in the draft stage. Hopefully within the next year, we’ll be able to start that but it all depends on the third parcel.”

On Tuesday morning, Public Information Manager Catherine Card said they hope to have an answer regarding the third parcel by the end of the year.

LOCAL GOV.

FWB City Manager pushing to regulate smoking at local parks and sports complexes

On Monday, members of the Legislative Delegation Board of Directors met at the Okaloosa County Admin building to hear from both local governments as well as citizens. 

This included:

• House District 3: Representative Jayer Williamson
• House District 4: Representative Patt Maney
• Senate District 1: Senator Doug Broxso
• Senate District 2: Senator George B. Gainer

After presenting two projects to the Delegation, Fort Walton Beach City Manager Michael Beedie spoke about The Florida League of Cities’ push to pass a bill that would allow local governments to restrict smoking on beaches and in public parks.

• As it stands today, local governments cannot regulate smoking and/or non-smoking areas on public property.
• That is controlled by the state.

“Local governments are not allowed to regulate smoking in public parks or beaches,” said Beedie to the board. “Each year we’ve gotten a sponsor in the House and Senate and it’s gotten further and further each year. This year we’re hoping it gets over the finish line.”

• The bills are Senate Bill 224 and House Bill 105.

According to Beedie, the bill has gone through the first committee in the Senate, but has not been heard yet in the House. 

“We are hoping that bill goes through because we would love to be able to regulate smoking, to some extent, whether it’s creating smoke-free zones or designated smoking areas in public parks or athletic complexes,” continued Beedie. 

He says that one of the biggest complaints the City of Fort Walton Beach receives is about smoking that happens near the bleachers during sporting events.

The 2022 session for the House starts in January 2022. 

OKALOOSA ISLAND

Gulfarium to build a new show stadium and dolphin pool

Established in 1955, not only does the Gulfarium seek to provide family-oriented entertainment, they also have a hand in:

• Conservation and Research: The C.A.R.E. Center has treated 640 endangered sea turtles.
• Education: School field trips and hands-on experiences.
• Community enhancement: Pier and beach clean-up events.

To better suit their needs along with their role in the community, the Gulfarium is proposing to construct a new show stadium and dolphin encounter pool/building on approximately 2.24 acres in the northwest corner of the 11.84 acre. 

The Dolphin Exhibit project consists of three primary dolphin habitats (pools):

• Show pool
• Exhibit pool
• Encounter pool

The existing show stadium, which has an occupancy of 500 people, will be closed and replaced with a new attraction in the future. The proposed show stadium will have an occupancy of 480 people and include stadium-style seating areas with overhead shade canopies. 

The existing dolphin encounter pool will be demolished during construction but replaced with an encounter pool to accommodate the same number of guests. 

The Exhibit pool includes a large split level underwater viewing area. 

In addition to the primary habitats, there are three back-of-householding pools.

• There are two (2) new buildings that contain the Life Support Systems for the animal habitats (pools) and an “Encounter building” that provides restrooms, changing rooms and gear storage facilities for park guests.

One unique thing: Because the project will require moving around a lot of sand on a limited lot size, there isn’t really a good place to stockpile the sand. Choctaw Engineering, Inc. has requested that they be allowed to temporarily remove the sand from the site and store it in a location off of Okaloosa Island. 

• According to Elliot Kampert, Growth Management Director for Okaloosa County, the project make note of how much sand has been taken off, and verify that the same exact sand and volume is brought back to the site for final grading and landscaping. 

“I’m pretty sure that my kids know nothing about what I do in this job, but when they find out that I helped save the dolphins, they are going to actually think this is a cool job,” said Commissioner Nathan Boyles during the meeting. “So I’m super excited.”