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Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert

They are mostly made by mother nature. There are plenty of things to do at the beach. Give a kid a bucket and see where that goes. Also, with 40% of SoWal, being State Property, there are plenty of parks for hiking and biking, as well as seeing plants and animals. It's like a zoo out there if you stop to look. Our rare coastal dune lakes, also gives us much to explore. The rivers in our area also are worthy of exploration. Fishing -- there are plenty of opportunities. We tend to forget that we grew up with wooden blocks, since our kids are growing up with remote control boats and cars, and computers. There is plenty waiting for kids to do, if they we will just open our eyes. 

My statements aren't to suggest that we don't need additional recreational fields for team sports, or other mainstream things like skating.

They are mostly made by mother nature. There are plenty of things to do at the beach. Give a kid a bucket and see where that goes. Also, with 40% of SoWal, being State Property, there are plenty of parks for hiking and biking, as well as seeing plants and animals. It&#039;s like a zoo out there if you stop to look. Our rare coastal dune lakes, also gives us much to explore. The rivers in our area also are worthy of exploration. Fishing -- there are plenty of opportunities. We tend to forget that we grew up with wooden blocks, since our kids are growing up with remote control boats and cars, and computers. There is plenty waiting for kids to do, if they we will just open our eyes. 
 
My statements aren&#039;t to suggest that we don&#039;t need additional recreational fields for team sports, or other mainstream things like skating.

jodiFL

Beach Fanatic

I know about all of those provided by Mother Nature, but from a kids point of view (MY kids anyway) they get kinda bored with all of those things after about 12-15 years of that being the only thing around. But surely he isnt talking about the swimming pools that are on private property, or the parks with swings and stuff that are either on school property or ..again..  PRIVATE property. OH wait maybe a water park? yep..a big one called the Gulf. Skate Park?  Oh yea.. thats in Freeport. Sure they can bike through the state forest, (dont forget your hunter orange and cowbell in the fall/winter) For a real adventure, try biking 98 in the summer or swimming with sharks. And I almost forgot that one lone basketball court at Hogtown. I just really needed to rant because there is absolutely nothing that our county has provided for kids down here. And he (Ronnie Bell) knows it.

[quote="Smiling JOe, post: 345354"]They are mostly made by mother nature. There are plenty of things to do at the beach. Give a kid a bucket and see where that goes. Also, with 40% of SoWal, being State Property, there are plenty of parks for hiking and biking, as well as seeing plants and animals. It's like a zoo out there if you stop to look. Our rare coastal dune lakes, also gives us much to explore. The rivers in our area also are worthy of exploration. Fishing -- there are plenty of opportunities. We tend to forget that we grew up with wooden blocks, since our kids are growing up with remote control boats and cars, and computers. There is plenty waiting for kids to do, if they we will just open our eyes. 
 
My statements aren't to suggest that we don't need additional recreational fields for team sports, or other mainstream things like skating.[/quote]
:clap::clap::clap:
My children tell me they enjoyed their childhood and some of their best memories were spent in the county parks in our area and on the lake. I didn't have cable or nintendo for my children and now as young adults they rarely camp out in front of the tv. They enjoy doing activities outdoors even during winter.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Smiling JOe">They are mostly made by mother nature. There are plenty of things to do at the beach. Give a kid a bucket and see where that goes. Also, with 40% of SoWal, being State Property, there are plenty of parks for hiking and biking, as well as seeing plants and animals. It&#039;s like a zoo out there if you stop to look. Our rare coastal dune lakes, also gives us much to explore. The rivers in our area also are worthy of exploration. Fishing -- there are plenty of opportunities. We tend to forget that we grew up with wooden blocks, since our kids are growing up with remote control boats and cars, and computers. There is plenty waiting for kids to do, if they we will just open our eyes. 
 
My statements aren&#039;t to suggest that we don&#039;t need additional recreational fields for team sports, or other mainstream things like skating.</blockquote>:clap::clap::clap: 
My children tell me they enjoyed their childhood and some of their best memories were spent in the county parks in our area and on the lake. I didn&#039;t have cable or nintendo for my children and now as young adults they rarely camp out in front of the tv. They enjoy doing activities outdoors even during winter.

greenroomsurfer

O.K. I"ll be the smartarsk, Buy a horse.  We seem to have a abundance of equestrian parks. I feel your pain sista especially on a day like today. My kids are driving me nuts.  I long for the warmer days on the beach. I almost have to knock my kids out to get them to leave. If they skate have them build a halfpipe. Surfing would be my numero uno answer.

O.K. I&quot;ll be the smartarsk, Buy a horse.  We seem to have a abundance of equestrian parks. I feel your pain sista especially on a day like today. My kids are driving me nuts.  I long for the warmer days on the beach. I almost have to knock my kids out to get them to leave. If they skate have them build a halfpipe. Surfing would be my numero uno answer.

MY kids spent a great deal of time doing all of those things, they both fish, can spot a gator,deer,snakes and every other animal that lives around here at 50 yards. They can tell you about the birds by the call they make and know alot of constellations in every season. They have a pretty good collection of native American pottery shards and know what tribes were in this area. They can also name all of the different planes that are regularly flown out of Eglin, and can tell you whether its a AF, county, Coast Guard or commercial helicopter. But when they wanted to go skating...about 45 minutes to a skatepark in PCB, too much seaweed etc in the gulf... $100 at Shipwreck.
..
.
.Horses...?? nah.. cost to much to feed/board and are way too big to be a dumb as they are.. LOL

MY kids spent a great deal of time doing all of those things, they both fish, can spot a gator,deer,snakes and every other animal that lives around here at 50 yards. They can tell you about the birds by the call they make and know alot of constellations in every season. They have a pretty good collection of native American pottery shards and know what tribes were in this area. They can also name all of the different planes that are regularly flown out of Eglin, and can tell you whether its a AF, county, Coast Guard or commercial helicopter. But when they wanted to go skating...about 45 minutes to a skatepark in PCB, too much seaweed etc in the gulf... $100 at Shipwreck. 
.. 
. 
.Horses...?? nah.. cost to much to feed/board and are way too big to be a dumb as they are.. LOL

up4golf

Beach Lover

[quote="jodiFL, post: 345348"]this so called "MULTITUDE" of things for kids to do around here is? 
From the Suns site regarding the Helen McCall expansion..
 
 
I mean I have lived here for 20+ years and cant figure out where they are hidden.[/quote]
look for the signs or use the signs

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="jodiFL">this so called &quot;MULTITUDE&quot; of things for kids to do around here is? 
From the Suns site regarding the Helen McCall expansion.. 
 
 
I mean I have lived here for 20+ years and cant figure out where they are hidden.</blockquote>look for the signs or use the signs

NotDeadYet

[QUOTE]We seem to have a abundance of equestrian parks.[/QUOTE]
 
We do? Where :confused:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="">We seem to have a abundance of equestrian parks.</blockquote> 
We do? Where :confused:

[quote="NotDeadYet, post: 345460"]We do? Where :confused:[/quote]
There is one off of Bay DR. Dont ask me why... they made people stop keeping horses around that area about 18 years ago.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="NotDeadYet">We do? Where :confused:</blockquote>There is one off of Bay DR. Dont ask me why... they made people stop keeping horses around that area about 18 years ago.

ShallowsNole

Nice to see I've been slightly misquoted, again...:roll:

Perhaps my stories of pygmy rattlers and braying coyotes were mistaken for safety concerns.  :lol:

Nice to see I&#039;ve been slightly misquoted, again...:roll: 
 
Perhaps my stories of pygmy rattlers and braying coyotes were mistaken for safety concerns. :lol:

Jdarg

The equestrian park on Bay Dr. [I]appears[/I] to be a place to van in, tack up, and go for a trail ride on the Pt. Washington trails.  There is some sort of paddock situation, my guess for a quick turn out or secure area to tack up.  Several parks in Kentucky and Indiana have these type of facilities for trail riding/overnight camping, but I don't think that is allowed in the Pt. Washington forest, is it?

The equestrian park on Bay Dr. appears to be a place to van in, tack up, and go for a trail ride on the Pt. Washington trails. There is some sort of paddock situation, my guess for a quick turn out or secure area to tack up. Several parks in Kentucky and Indiana have these type of facilities for trail riding/overnight camping, but I don&#039;t think that is allowed in the Pt. Washington forest, is it?

No it isnt allowed and I have never seen the gate thing blocking it down.

RealtorMom

Beach Comber

There are 2 land use workshops for recreational facilities in South Walton being held at the South Walton Annex today at 6 pm and Friday at 4 pm. You could probably call the courthouse to get more details. An article in Jan 19 Walton Sun talked about it. I'm going to try to go on Friday. Someone with kids should go and talk about the need.

There are 2 land use workshops for recreational facilities in South Walton being held at the South Walton Annex today at 6 pm and Friday at 4 pm. You could probably call the courthouse to get more details. An article in Jan 19 Walton Sun talked about it. I&#039;m going to try to go on Friday. Someone with kids should go and talk about the need.

barefootguy

My daughter is young enough that riding her biking around the block is fun enough. She just learned how to ride, so that thrill will probably wear off in a few weeks. Luckily, we're in a pretty kid friendly neighborhood, with sidewalks and no through traffic.

I lived 39 years in the Chicago area, so it was a bit of a change moving down here. I've always been involved working with youth in some way or another, and was amazed at the lack of things for them to do. They don't even have a mall to hang out at. I've even asked around at area churches. They have things for the grade school kids, but once they get into middle school and especially high school they don't really know what to do with/for them.

In Crestview they hang out in the parking lot at Publix and Winn Dixie, and if you're "in the know" you know where to go on the weekends "in the woods".

Around here they've got a few parking lots and certain community pools, but that's only late at night, and only until someone discovers them and calls the cops.

Our church is doing a lot with a growing group of youth, but since we don't have a building, it's been families opening up their homes as hangout spots.



[quote="jodiFL, post: 345364"]I know about all of those provided by Mother Nature, but from a kids point of view (MY kids anyway) they get kinda bored with all of those things after about 12-15 years of that being the only thing around. But surely he isnt talking about the swimming pools that are on private property, or the parks with swings and stuff that are either on school property or ..again..  PRIVATE property. OH wait maybe a water park? yep..a big one called the Gulf. Skate Park?  Oh yea.. thats in Freeport. Sure they can bike through the state forest, (dont forget your hunter orange and cowbell in the fall/winter) For a real adventure, try biking 98 in the summer or swimming with sharks. And I almost forgot that one lone basketball court at Hogtown. I just really needed to rant because there is absolutely nothing that our county has provided for kids down here. And he (Ronnie Bell) knows it.[/QUOTE]

My daughter is young enough that riding her biking around the block is fun enough. She just learned how to ride, so that thrill will probably wear off in a few weeks. Luckily, we&#039;re in a pretty kid friendly neighborhood, with sidewalks and no through traffic. 
 
I lived 39 years in the Chicago area, so it was a bit of a change moving down here. I&#039;ve always been involved working with youth in some way or another, and was amazed at the lack of things for them to do. They don&#039;t even have a mall to hang out at. I&#039;ve even asked around at area churches. They have things for the grade school kids, but once they get into middle school and especially high school they don&#039;t really know what to do with/for them. 
 
In Crestview they hang out in the parking lot at Publix and Winn Dixie, and if you&#039;re &quot;in the know&quot; you know where to go on the weekends &quot;in the woods&quot;. 
 
Around here they&#039;ve got a few parking lots and certain community pools, but that&#039;s only late at night, and only until someone discovers them and calls the cops. 
 
Our church is doing a lot with a growing group of youth, but since we don&#039;t have a building, it&#039;s been families opening up their homes as hangout spots. 
 
 
 
<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="jodiFL">I know about all of those provided by Mother Nature, but from a kids point of view (MY kids anyway) they get kinda bored with all of those things after about 12-15 years of that being the only thing around. But surely he isnt talking about the swimming pools that are on private property, or the parks with swings and stuff that are either on school property or ..again.. PRIVATE property. OH wait maybe a water park? yep..a big one called the Gulf. Skate Park? Oh yea.. thats in Freeport. Sure they can bike through the state forest, (dont forget your hunter orange and cowbell in the fall/winter) For a real adventure, try biking 98 in the summer or swimming with sharks. And I almost forgot that one lone basketball court at Hogtown. I just really needed to rant because there is absolutely nothing that our county has provided for kids down here. And he (Ronnie Bell) knows it.</blockquote>

The hangout spot for middle & high schoolers is Destin Commons.  In particular, the Rave, the boats at Bass Pro, the family bathroom, and the East Office Building.  :bang: :pissed::whack:

The hangout spot for middle &amp; high schoolers is Destin Commons.  In particular, the Rave, the boats at Bass Pro, the family bathroom, and the East Office Building.  :bang: :pissed::whack:

[quote="Mom of Twins, post: 353450"]There are 2 land use workshops for recreational facilities in South Walton being held at the South Walton Annex today at 6 pm and Friday at 4 pm. You could probably call the courthouse to get more details. An article in Jan 19 Walton Sun talked about it. I'm going to try to go on Friday. Someone with kids should go and talk about the need.[/quote]

Done and done.  We have been working on this for over a year.  I do wish more parents had been involved this week- it was just me, SGB, Supermom, and Beachmom at the meetings this week.  Thanks again to SGB for keeping us "on task".


[url="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=19261"]Public Workshops for Design of Helen McCall Park - SoWal Beaches Forum[/url]

Final master plan will be presented Friday!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Mom of Twins">There are 2 land use workshops for recreational facilities in South Walton being held at the South Walton Annex today at 6 pm and Friday at 4 pm. You could probably call the courthouse to get more details. An article in Jan 19 Walton Sun talked about it. I&#039;m going to try to go on Friday. Someone with kids should go and talk about the need.</blockquote> 
Done and done. We have been working on this for over a year. I do wish more parents had been involved this week- it was just me, SGB, Supermom, and Beachmom at the meetings this week. Thanks again to SGB for keeping us &quot;on task&quot;. 
 
 
<a href="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=19261" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Public Workshops for Design of Helen McCall Park - SoWal Beaches Forum</a> 
 
Final master plan will be presented Friday!

bluemtnrunner

[quote="jdarg, post: 353882"]Done and done.  We have been working on this for over a year.  I do wish more parents had been involved this week- it was just me, SGB, Supermom, and Beachmom at the meetings this week.  Thanks again to SGB for keeping us "on task".


[url]http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=19261[/url]

Final master plan will be presented Friday![/QUOTE]

I completely abandon you guys this week at the meetings and I'm sorry.  I got really sick on Monday (you should thank me for not coming).  I appreciate that you made it out there and I do promise to be there in the future.

As far as teenage boredom goes...I have several kids that are complaining these days.  They do ride their bikes, go to the beach, paddle when it is warm enough.  The big issue is having a place to hang out so that when you are bored you can go find the other kids that are bored and then you can do stuff (maybe even ride your bikes on the trail).  I hate the idea of my kids hanging out at the mall and don't facilitate that one. Mine have always been able to walk to the park where they could skate, play soccer or just run around.  Here there is no central place for kids to congregate.  A small number of kids and a spread out community makes it difficult.  Their too old for "play dates"
I'm excited to see what can make of the park land.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="jdarg">Done and done. We have been working on this for over a year. I do wish more parents had been involved this week- it was just me, SGB, Supermom, and Beachmom at the meetings this week. Thanks again to SGB for keeping us &quot;on task&quot;. 
 
 
<a href="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=19261" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=19261</a> 
 
Final master plan will be presented Friday!</blockquote> 
I completely abandon you guys this week at the meetings and I&#039;m sorry. I got really sick on Monday (you should thank me for not coming). I appreciate that you made it out there and I do promise to be there in the future. 
 
As far as teenage boredom goes...I have several kids that are complaining these days. They do ride their bikes, go to the beach, paddle when it is warm enough. The big issue is having a place to hang out so that when you are bored you can go find the other kids that are bored and then you can do stuff (maybe even ride your bikes on the trail). I hate the idea of my kids hanging out at the mall and don&#039;t facilitate that one. Mine have always been able to walk to the park where they could skate, play soccer or just run around. Here there is no central place for kids to congregate. A small number of kids and a spread out community makes it difficult. Their too old for &quot;play dates&quot; 
I&#039;m excited to see what can make of the park land.

this so called "MULTITUDE" of things for kids to do around here is? 
From the Suns site regarding the Helen McCall expansion..

[QUOTE]?Last year the park had more than 350 children play either little league baseball or girls softball,? said Walton County Administrator Ronnie Bell. ?Although [B]South Walton has a multitude of recreational opportunities[/B] for children and adults, Helen McCall Park is the only park of its kind (In South Walton).?[/QUOTE]
 I mean I have lived here for 20+ years and cant figure out where they are hidden.

this so called &quot;MULTITUDE&quot; of things for kids to do around here is? 
From the Suns site regarding the Helen McCall expansion.. 
 
<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="">?Last year the park had more than 350 children play either little league baseball or girls softball,? said Walton County Administrator Ronnie Bell. ?Although South Walton has a multitude of recreational opportunities for children and adults, Helen McCall Park is the only park of its kind (In South Walton).?</blockquote> I mean I have lived here for 20+ years and cant figure out where they are hidden.

Can someone tell me where....

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Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton