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hi n dry

Beach Lover
Sep 12, 2005
205
28

    • 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.



    BchfrntTrl250ftsize.png



 

Truman

Beach Fanatic
Apr 3, 2009
650
270
Where is this located?
It is next to Dunes of Seagrove condominiums, east of Eastern Lake. To the original poster's point, Dunes of Seagrove condos obliterated an amazing field of dunes (as did almost every other gulf front condos and houses in SoWal).
 

BeachKrab

Beach Comber
Jul 31, 2018
23
19
52
Seagrove
And now the County looks to obliterate more of our precious coastal dunes. There already is parking for this access. County should add bathrooms where the current lot is if they wish to add facilities. I hate seeing all of our beauty being paved. This access would be a great one to bike to. Let’s get more cars off the roads.

Speaking of Inlet beach.... that’s a huge parcel with tons of parking and facilities and it isn’t utilized. If one is going to drive that is a great beach as are the Grayton and Deer Lake parks.
 

Emerald Drifter

Beach Fanatic
Jun 8, 2018
617
274
Santa Rosa Beach
And now the County looks to obliterate more of our precious coastal dunes. There already is parking for this access. County should add bathrooms where the current lot is if they wish to add facilities. I hate seeing all of our beauty being paved. This access would be a great one to bike to. Let’s get more cars off the roads.

Speaking of Inlet beach.... that’s a huge parcel with tons of parking and facilities and it isn’t utilized. If one is going to drive that is a great beach as are the Grayton and Deer Lake parks.

I agree with using more bikes, less cars.

But where is the parking for this access?

mapserv60
 

BeachKrab

Beach Comber
Jul 31, 2018
23
19
52
Seagrove
I agree with using more bikes, less cars.

But where is the parking for this access?

mapserv60
There is an existing parking lot already on Beachfront Trail. The ironic thing... On the top right of this map shows an access through the dunes. Silly as it sounds, this used to be the official beach access point until the county fenced it off for beach dune restoration. This actually restricted access to this beach. Not to mention the beach vendors commandeer half of this beach.
 

Emerald Drifter

Beach Fanatic
Jun 8, 2018
617
274
Santa Rosa Beach
There is an existing parking lot already on Beachfront Trail. The ironic thing... On the top right of this map shows an access through the dunes. Silly as it sounds, this used to be the official beach access point until the county fenced it off for beach dune restoration. This actually restricted access to this beach. Not to mention the beach vendors commandeer half of this beach.

Got it. Thank you for the info.

Another thread, but I strongly advocate "no commercial vending on the people's county owned properties. Period."

And another thread, Walton County needs a "Bicycle Director" or someone who gets this county much more bicycle friendly. There is not a completely safe path from west end of 30A to Grand Blvd/Sandestin/Miramar.
 
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