What is the one thing you would like to see...

Cheap eats and heated pool for late fall/winter/early spring swimming closer than PCB pool.

A Whole Foods.

the fort walton yatch club (steep fees) is still the best anchorage anywhere near 30A for anything larger than a canoe - the dock at destin harbor and the private marina at the end of the strip is just insane and way too far away to be practical - the intracoastal is great at boondocks and there is a huge industrial boat launch near there, but you are quite right, there is no real place like a marina except up the bay (that i have found) - pcb/pcity is loaded with them, and tons of waterfront boat accessable resturants, its not fair - and there's nothing like being pulled over on leaving the resturant and being checked for dui by the marine patrol

Where are the Parks? Everywhere I've lived playgrounds, ballfields, hoop/tennis courts were a priority for most communities. Maybe I just need to go North of the Bay for that? Sorry not very PC of me.

And a farmers Market.

I'd like to see some mass transit (I'm thinking monorail)...but I'd settle for an annual women's beach volleyball tournament😀 ...

I'd like to see some mass transit (I'm thinking monorail)...but I'd settle for an annual women's beach volleyball tournament😀 ...

I sure hope we don't get one of those unless it stays between the Outlet Mall and Lake Powell, but even then, people would want to link into it. Now the women's beach volleyball would be perfect.

Where are the Parks? Everywhere I've lived playgrounds, ballfields, hoop/tennis courts were a priority for most communities. Maybe I just need to go North of the Bay for that? Sorry not very PC of me.

Don't worry about being PC.

There are ballfields at Helen McCall park, and the older kids play ball at SWHS. Tennis is available at Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club. There used to be a basketball hoop at Cessna Park. There is a public pool (at least I think so) and a small playground at Freeport City Hall. While not in SoWal, the Children's Park in Niceville is da bomb. We used to go and make a day of it.

Every organized youth activity in SoWal has the facilities to play in SoWal. And, with the exception of the playground, our facilities are for the most part nicer than those in DFS.

What we do need, as alluded to in another thread, is childcare. Not just childcare while one works out (would be nice), but childcare for working parents.

A Whole Foods would be a dream come true! I cannot tell you how many times I've written asking/begging for them to put one up here, at least in Destin.

The fact that the only public playground in SoWal is owned by Sandestin bugs the life out of me. While I like the N'ville childrens park, I've found it very dangerous for the 3 and under crowd. The horseshoe footprint of the park makes it impossible to see around to the other side if you little one runs over to another structure. And many of the structures are open ended and very high off the ground. The Morgan Sports complex playground is much more toddler friendly IMO. But... I shouldn't have to drive to Okaloosa county to take my kids to the playground, nor should I have to go into Sandestin (besides, that playground is a nightmare with a 2 y/o).

Working parents childcare is definitely an issue as well. I know our church poured a lot of effort into possibly starting a daycare here, but I think it's been put on the back burner because of some seriously expensive upgrades that would have had to be done to the building. :(
There is also no Mother's Day Out program that I know of here. They have a few up in Niceville/Fort Walton, but by the time I drove out there to drop them off then drove home, I would have to turn around and come right back.

Where are the Parks? Everywhere I've lived playgrounds, ballfields, hoop/tennis courts were a priority for most communities. Maybe I just need to go North of the Bay for that? Sorry not very PC of me.

We could have had a great boys and girls club offering all of the above and more but a hand full of residents nixed that idea.......that was the "shame" of the year 2006................

Child care is certainly a need. There are young couples leaving the area because of this lack; and many others not locating here on a permanent basis for the same reason.

Apparently, the biggest drawback is the cost of the land/rent for a building, etc. Much the same problem as the lack of housing for those who would like to work here.....

There are some really good Employee Child Care Centers throughout the state and country; lots of research on this issue. Perhaps someone could look into those methods and modify for what we need here.

Of course, if there had been some effective growth management planning done by this county government things might look a lot different!

We could have had a great boys and girls club offering all of the above and more but a hand full of residents nixed that idea.......that was the "shame" of the year 2006................

I thought that the only thing nixed was the location. :idontno: I know there was money tied to it if they built only on that location, but now they have moved the existing trailers to the property behind the SW Library Annex, and I understand that they still intend to build the Club on the County property.

I thought that the only thing nixed was the location. :idontno: I know there was money tied to it if they built only on that location, but now they have moved the existing trailers to the property behind the SW Library Annex, and I understand that they still intend to build the Club on the County property.

correct

A Whole Foods would be a dream come true! I cannot tell you how many times I've written asking/begging for them to put one up here, at least in Destin.

It's not Whole Foods, but Destin will be getting a Fresh Market soon at Destin Commons. That's a wonderful addition in its own right :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1: