Today, the Public can walk the entire 26 miles of beach, swim, fish, take pictures, and enjoy. That right is protected by the State of Florida (not Walton County). What the Public cannot do is “day camp” with unlimited people with unlimited equipment on Private Property against the will of the property as the BCC proposed (for the first time ever in the 2016 Beach Ordinance). That has NEVER been permitted in the State of Florida.
Day Camping with unlimited people and unlimited beach equipment on private deed property against the will of the property owner is neither a right, nor privilege, nor legal. This has nothing to do with walking the beach, swimming, or fishing. Access to Private property is an independent decision each and every parcel owner makes for their unique deeded property boundaries. You can be an invited guest, or rent their property, or go the State Park, or to the Public beach if you want to day camp.
Approximately ½ of the 26 miles is available due to County purchases (Public Beach), State Purchases (State Parks) or beach that has been refurbished.
Why not just have the BCC or State purchase more beach property from the property owners like they have done in the past and turn it into Public Access property like Topsail State Park or the new public beach front property across from Stinky’s, instead of trying to steal it from people who have invested millions of dollars, some of the land has been in owned by some families for generations.
There is a reason taking property in the USA requires judicial approval instead of a couple of local elected officials deciding they want something for nothing because they like it or to chase billions of tourist dollars. If "taking" was permitted, every County Commissioner in the USA would just take any ad every property they wanted for the "good of the general public'. It might be just the BPO's that have their land stolen today, yours could be tomorrow....