In 2014, the Walton County AVCON Needs Assessment Study recommended a Regional Beach Access at the county owned 250 feet beachfront at Walton Dunes/Beachfront Trail. In 2016 the TDC proposed a carefully planned environmentally sensitive project at this location.
Yet due to complaints from owners in nearby gated communities and condos this 3 acres of county owned beachfront has not been developed into a Regional Beach Access.
The county is spending millions to buy beachfront property but is not utilizing this unique parcel which offers level terrain ideal for physically challenged, elderly, wounded warriors, and young families.
Most Walton residents don’t live near the beach and need more beach accesses with convenient parking and rest rooms.
Currently there are no Regional Beach Accesses from Seagrove Beach to Inlet Beach. This would also be an excellent location for a life guard station.
Contrary to opponents' claims, Beachfront Trail/ Lakewood Drive is not a neighborhood street. It has been used for vehicular beach access for the sheriff, TDC, and vendors prior to the surrounding developments.
The county plans to enhance safety with a new multi-use path along Beachfront Trail as well as stop signs and street side parking which act to calm traffic. Space for cars to turnaround is incorporated into the proposal.
It is ironic that those who trampled paths through the dunes and bulldozed mature dunes for their private developments, parking lots, and buildings are now hypocritically complaining that this Regional Beach Access would harm some already damaged low lying dunes.
In fact the TDC proposal includes dune preservation, restoration, and nourishment as well as a walkover that would protect dunes from the current erosion due to foot traffic.(see attached photo of 3 acre beachfront).
Soon the TDC will again propose a Regional Beach Access at Beachfront Trail/ Walton Dunes.
Just as most of us support Public Customary Use of private beaches we need to encourage the county commission to provide convenient parking and restrooms at this 250 feet of county owned beachfront.
Hopefully the new composition of the county commission will have the courage to act in the best interest of the less vocal majority of Walton citizens who need to drive to the beach.
County owned public beaches are not just for the fortunate who can walk to the Gulf.