South Walton Sports Complex Update

We should at least look at what it would cost and what revenue it would produce.

So what if it is a 1/2 cent bed tax? Tourists would be paying it.

We need more baseball fields in South Walton and so much the better if we can get tourists to pay for it.

FYI-no kids either

I looked at the attachment and it appears to be an RFP to conduct a Feasibility Study to determine the feasibility of a sports AND arts complex for Walton County. I believe it stems from community requests for both.

In my experience with other feasibility studies, they would typically include a component of citizen involvement. Additionally, they typically include a financial feasibility analysis to evaluate exisiting and possible future revenue streams. I guess my point is that I don't see any proposal to raise bed taxes or exclude citizen input as that's what led to the study.
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Be nice if they could get a pool as part of that sort of complex. Doesn't have to be as big as Frank Brown Park, but something similar to the Destin YMCA would be a community asset.

Generally a public facility isn't a revenue generator. That being said I'm all for it.

so is the TDC sitting on 102 acres already owned by them?

so is the TDC sitting on 102 acres already owned by them?

Generally speaking, the TDC is a county agency and does not own any land. They only manage lands owned by the County (i.e. beach and bay accesses).

Generally speaking, the TDC is a county agency and does not own any land. They only manage lands owned by the County (i.e. beach and bay accesses).

Does the county own a lot of land that isn't set aside for conservation?

Does the county own a lot of land that isn't set aside for conservation?

I don't know for the County as a whole as I am more familiar with beach and bay accesses, and properties the TDC manages in Sowal. The planning department could probably answer that for you, or maybe WCTA has that info.

I don't know for the County as a whole as I am more familiar with beach and bay accesses, and properties the TDC manages in Sowal. The planning department could probably answer that for you, or maybe WCTA has that info.

Thanks. It's easier just to ask the peanut gallery.

Thanks. It's easier just to ask the peanut gallery.

I understand.

Is NatureWalk 102 acres? (just kidding, but that would be nice)

Park sounds like a good thing.

Slips out of lurkdom to add my 2 pennies worth. This sounds like a great idea. A nice pool complex and baseball/softball fields could bring in extra revenue (as if Walton Co needs more tourists) in the form of tournaments and swim/diving meets...and honestly the more structured recreation available to the youngsters, the less free time for mischief. Or so the theory goes. I know I always found time for mischief...still do.

I am personally for more civic facilities in SoWal. That is about my only complaint with the area. Although I appreciate all of the local resort developments' green spaces, it would be great to have some spaces that are truly for the community, especially if it included ballfields or pools. I'm sure that the resort developments would like to keep their property reserved primarily for their guests. As far as the bed tax goes, I see it as the visiting population giving back to help maintain a healthy and happy SoWal. A yin yang or cosmic balance.

What would it take for the local government to create some indoor facilities for locals to use during the burning summer days and the colder winter days? The outdoors are truly magnificent in SoWal, but there are times when indoor space would be a welcome relief, especially now that the coastal library branch will be closed on Saturday.

Don't need it. Don't want it. Bed taxes should be going to maintain the beaches, not diverted to other spending.

A very brief search led me to some sports complex plans in my area in the past couple of years.

One opened in FishHawk Ranch (newer development) at a cost of just under $10 million for 70 acres. No pool, mostly fields, concessions, restrooms.

One proposal was for a very controversial $40 million project on over 400 acres, with a midsized stadium surrounded by other playing fields. As far as I know it is dead in the water.

It seems like the county is looking at a multi-use building for arts and sports, some fields, and hopefully a pool? I would be all for it but paying for it is another issue. As someone who communicates directly with renters on a frequent basis, I don't think expecting them to cough up additional dollars to pay for it is a good plan at this point. Maybe revenues will be up without raising the taxes by the time the plans are ready to go.

From re-reading the link in the original post, it appears the county is studying the feasibility of two separate facilities, possibly (probably?) in two separate places. Page 22 has a breakdown of what the sports complex would contain, and it doesn't appear to have the arts plans included in that breakdown of 102 acres. It doesn't seem to say how much space they would need for the arts complex, but I'm guessing the 5,000-10,000 seat facility alone needs plenty of room.

Coming from a family with no affiliation to sports, it's rather foreign to me. Is this part of a stimulus plan for our economy?

Coming from a family with no affiliation to sports, it's rather foreign to me. Is this part of a stimulus plan for our economy?

Please re-read the thread and post again. :roll:

I'm for it if there's a heated pool. If they want tourists to pay for it with increased tax, one thing tourists would love to have is a heated pool off season. That would also possibly bring more renters in off season which could also help local businesses (if more people visiting off season is what SoWal wants). We just got back from Italy and there's a public pool and it was full just about every day with families and teens - locals and a LOT of visitors. Kids loved it so I loved it. It was a great place for the kids to meet other kids.

I'm for it if there's a heated pool. If they want tourists to pay for it with increased tax, one thing tourists would love to have is a heated pool off season. That would also possibly bring more renters in off season which could also help local businesses (if more people visiting off season is what SoWal wants).

Three words:

Snowbird water aerobics

Which is both a brilliant and terrifying concept

Well, this is suprising. Possible tax money being used to pay for a sports complex from the TDC and most of the comments are positive. I am truly shocked, there was more outrage about using the 1/2 penny increace to assist in drawing a Low Cost Airline. Although I am not opposed to this, had the County had foresight enough a regional facility could have been built long ago with it being built by developers as a swap for green space in subdivisions.

Yeah, me too. That's the first EMail I've ever gotten from SoWal.

Maybe one of the moderators should pass this on to Kurt.

This moderator is fairly certain that Kurt is the one who sent it out.

don't need it. Don't want it. Bed taxes should be going to maintain the beaches, not diverted to other spending.

amen!

Three words:

Snowbird water aerobics

Which is both a brilliant and terrifying concept

If the county doesn't need a facility like this yet, they will at some point, not just for tourists but for general population growth. So it's good to try to target land while they still can. I would hope it would be centrally located so tourists and SoWal residents/owners can use it. But that's tricky. Nature Walk isn't exactly central for the entire county, but boy that would be sweet!