Walton County Fishing Pier Survey

[James Bentwood]

There is ample parking in Miramar Beach were Poppa Joe’s restaurant. There is also additional parking across the street provided by the county. That property could be increased to a 2 or 3 story parking garage. Specialized parking for the pier creating a tram to carry equipment to the pier.

As you travel throughout Florida and you visit whether it be beaches or other resort areas the city and Counties have established parking fees. This is to encourage people to use the trolleys in the area to decrease the concentration of trap.

Furthermore, north of the area I’m talking about there is some vacant land that could be purchased also for high-rise parking garage would not interfere with any of the infrastructure currently in place.

When there is a will there is a way with proper planning.

Pompano Joe's ...

There is a proposal in place for all of SoWal (or maybe just along 30A) to charge for day/weekend/week parking passes for tourists and annual passes for residents.

 

[Teresa]

South Walton offers its own unique beauty and resources. Why not focus on these. We have a great fishing spot on the bay under the new bridge park.

Why not expand access to our bay and coastal dune lakes with more eco adventure with kayaks and SUP.

We are not PCB.

Plus we need to focus on the private beach problem and pursue customary use. Again.

 

[Bob Wells]

Mr Magee
What you say is possible, but all of it cost money that could be used to improve other things.

There is ample parking in Miramar Beach were Poppa Joe’s restaurant. There is also additional parking across the street provided by the county. That property could be increased to a 2 or 3 story parking garage. Specialized parking for the pier creating a tram to carry equipment to the pier.

As you travel throughout Florida and you visit whether it be beaches or other resort areas the city and Counties have established parking fees. This is to encourage people to use the trolleys in the area to decrease the concentration of trap.

Furthermore, north of the area I’m talking about there is some vacant land that could be purchased also for high-rise parking garage would not interfere with any of the infrastructure currently in place.

 

[mputnal]

Teresa, I am going to try and rephrase my words so as to not get blocked but my post to you earlier was more of a plea for you to reconsider than a troll. It apparently got blocked anyway so I will try again. You and Kurt have a lot of influence in the community. Trust me the 331 pier is nothing like fishing offshore in the Gulf. Are there any reasonable circumstances that you would support a fishing pier and do you see any merit in my argument for a fishing pier?

 

[Jimmy T]

South Walton offers its own unique beauty and resources. Why not focus on those. We have a great fishing spot on the bay under the new bridge park.

Why not expand access to our bay and coastal dune lakes with more eco adventure with kayaks and SUP.

We are not PCB.

Plus we need to focus on the private beach problem and pursue customary use. Again.

I think the other elephant in the room we need to focus on is gulf, bay, and dune lake water quality. Our fisheries, nature, and economy depends on it.

 

[PoppaJ]

Poppaj, I appreciate your feedback on this subject. I may not always agree with you but I respect you. Do you know the area that Mr. Magee is talking about? I was thinking that Topsail would offer an already existing infrastructure and it is less congested. I believe that a fishing pier could be built that would not be an eyesore. What are your thoughts?

I think a pier would be nice addition to the area. I can imagine myself using it. I'm not giving a knee-jerk yes to it. I realize many things would need to be studied before it would become a reality and those same studies may find it isn't feasible. We can make the argument of "money better spent" on any proposed development. It's been over two years and I'm still waiting for the failed seawall down the street at Legion Park to be repaired.

 

[mputnal]

Poppaj, Thank you! I believe it is still possible that people can come together as a community to move projects along. It just needs to be done with a sense of civility and purpose. Civility is listening and respecting. Purpose is humanity. I agree with you that there are some projects should have priority over a fishing pier such as that seawall at Legion Park. I do believe a fishing pier would be greatly utilized by the entire community. I believe it would be money well spent if it can be determined to be feasible. I have been to beach communities on the East Coast and West Coast that have fishing piers and people always seem to be happy and smiling and many are taking pictures.

On another note it seems that customary use is about to take center stage again. It is possible that this new lawsuit changes our beach rights. I understand both sides. I lean toward customary use but a few misbehaving people seem to muck it up for all those that behave properly and respectfully. More people plus less beach (sea level rise) was a predictable situation. It would be nice to have a public fishing pier just in case it gets a little harder to find a public beach.

 

[jodiFL]

Fishing piers in Walton County have never fared well in the past (Crystal Beach,Camp Helen) what makes anyone think another one will be THE one to make it? They DO make for good snorkeling sites 20-30 years down the road, though.

 

[L.C. Bane]

Holy cow! Camp Helen pier! That was a looong ago. Different times.

 

[Jenksy]

Fishing piers in Walton County have never fared well in the past (Crystal Beach,Camp Helen) what makes anyone think another one will be THE one to make it? They DO make for good snorkeling sites 20-30 years down the road, though.

Putnal will get a confederate flag installed on it and hurricanes originating in Africa will not dare to come near.