BEACH OPERATIONS
Beach Access Updates:
The Grayton Beach Community Center is located at the junction of 44 Hotz Avenue and DeFuniak Street. It is currently in the design/permitting stage and once completed, the 1,600 +/- square foot building will house a local information station, restrooms, observation deck, a boardwalk to the beach and access to our transit shuttle. Work is anticipated to begin in Fall 2023 and be completed by Summer 2024.
Seagrove Regional Beach Access located across the street from Café Thirty-A, is approximately 90 percent complete through the design/permit phase. Construction plans include parking for automobiles, ADA, LSV and bicycles, a 1,000 square foot +/- restroom facility, handicap-accessible dune walkover and connectivity to the multi-use path. Construction is anticipated to begin in Winter 2023 and be complete by Summer 2024.
Walton Dunes Regional Beach Access is located at 258 Beachfront Trail. Currently under appeal with the Zoning Board of Adjustments, the Walton Dunes project is on hold until a final determination of the validity of the Development Order can be made. Improvements are expected to include 14 parallel ROW parking spaces with dedicated ADA, LSV and bicycle parking, restrooms and an ADA-accessible boardwalk.
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners continues to take an active approach to improve parking and transportation throughout the county. Here's a look at some projects currently undergoing or preparing for improvements:
The Eastern Lake Municipal Parking Facility grand opening was held Wednesday, August 9, at 400 Eastern Lake Road. This is the first of five parking facilities to be constructed in south Walton County and has added parking for 16 standard vehicles, 18 low-speed vehicles and a bike plaza. Developed to provide parking for the Eastern Lake public beach access, it is just steps away from where the Eastern Lake coastal dune lake outfall meets the beach. Residents and visitors come to this location to enjoy its unique beauty, which until now was mainly accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility, formerly referred to as the “Grayton Central” parking lot, is 6.995-acres and is located on the eastern portion of County Road 283 South, across from the Shoppes at Grayton. The Development Order has been approved and we are preparing to place the project out for bid. Plans call for the facility to have 180 +/- parking spaces, dedicated ADA, electric car, LSV and bicycle parking areas, restroom, public transportation facilities and connectivity to the multi-use path. Construction is expected to begin in Winter 2023 and be completed by Summer 2024.
The 393 Municipal Parking Facility is on 2.3-acres and is located north of the Gulf Place Town Center on the west side of County Road 393. Currently in the final design and permitting stage, this project will add 83 parking spaces with dedicated parking for ADA, LSV, bicycles and a 1,300 square foot transit building with restroom facility. Construction is expected to begin in Winter 2023 and completed by Summer 2024.
The Cessna Landing Park Improvements project, located at 1689 County Highway 393 in Santa Rosa Beach, is in the final design and permit stages. The park, with its large Bay access, is popular for water sports and charter fishing enthusiasts, and is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Plans are to add two additional pavilions, reconfigure existing driveways and parking areas and new piers for boat passenger loading and unloading, as well as temporary dockage. Work is expected to begin in Winter 2023 and be completed by Spring 2024.
Updates on Other Capital Improvement Projects:
- Driftwood Road Municipal Parking Facility Project at 76 Driftwood Road in Miramar Beach; plans include a parking lot containing 67 spaces with dedicated parking for ADA, LSV and bicycles, a public transit stop, electric vehicle charging stations, and a restroom facility. Status: Design and permitting is expected to be completed by early Summer 2023 in conjunction with a Regional Stormwater Initiative project.
- Kellogg Park Project at 855 Nursery Road in Santa Rosa Beach, this proposed community/nature center will be an 1,800 square foot assembly-style building for nature watching and community gatherings, with access to the kayak launch. Status: Design development with coastal cottage architecture is ongoing.
- Camp Creek Lake Canoe & Kayak Launch is located at Camp Creek Road South just north of 30A. This coastal dune lake access park will include ADA and bicycle parking, landscape, an ADA-accessible pier with canoe/kayak launch and stormwater systems. Status: Preparing to be heard at the Sept. 6, 2023, Technical Review Committee, the design is at approximately 90 percent and construction is expected to begin in Winter 2023 and be completed by Spring 2024.
- Headland Street Neighborhood Beach Access located in the South Headland Avenue right-of-way and will provide improved pedestrian access with a new sidewalk, boardwalk, dune walkover and connectivity to the multi-use path. Status: Design/permitting efforts continue. Construction is expected to begin in early Winter 2023.
- Pelayo Street Neighborhood Beach Access will have a new boardwalk and dune walkover to the beach once completed. Status: Currently in the design and permitting phase, this project is expected to begin in Summer 2023 and will be completed within a few months.
- Miramar Beach Municipal Parking Project is a 4.5-acre parcel in Miramar Beach is to be used for a beach-related municipal parking project. Status: Task order for master planning has not been issued pending coordination with Public Works engineering efforts.
More detail about Beach Operations Capital Improvements, including beach access, existing beach/bay renovation projects and other projects, is available HERE.
Beach Access & Customary Use Reminder:
While there have been changes for customary use of private beachfront property, much is still evolving. If guests have concerns, we hope the below information will be helpful.
Things to keep in mind:
- Visit South Walton currently maintains 58 public beach access points, including 10 Regional Public Beach Accesses complete with parking, restroom facilities, and lifeguards. South Walton also enjoys additional miles of public beach thanks to our State Parks. The customary use changes do not affect our public beaches, only privately-owned beachfront property.
- A user-friendly interactive map of public beach access points can be found HERE.
- Many beach neighborhoods and resorts already have dedicated beach areas available for guests staying with them.
What is customary use?
- Customary use is a common-law term referring to the public access of the privately-owned beachfront property. Some Gulf-front properties in Florida have a property line that extends to the mean high-water line.
What is changing?
- Essentially, some beachfront homeowners are restricting access to the dry sandy areas behind their homes. All wet sand areas remain undisputed public property and beachgoers cannot be excluded from these areas. The Walton County Sheriff’s Department will be the governing force for any conflicts or complications that may arise on the space in front of properties now considered private property.
Does that mean I can't walk all 26 miles of our white sand beaches?
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No, you can absolutely still walk our beautiful beaches for as far as you wish. There will still be plenty of space in the wet sand area for beach-walkers to enjoy, and plenty of public beach where access is in no way under dispute.
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