County Wants State Park Land at Topsail for Beach Access

Dang, common sense tears its ugly head again.

For some people, it would still be a shortcut to the beach (a much shorter cut). Actually, if my understanding is correct, the shortcut currently exists in the form of a path that's a little bit difficult to navigate. Technically you're not supposed to walk on it, but I've never been much of a technician.

I , actually, have almost no direct knowledge of this situation, but I thought Skunky sounded so logical. I walkway longer than Deer Lake walkway sounds too much. Maybe a shuttle using drones would be more practical?

Put it this way. A lot of people in the surrounding area might want to walk to the beach. Right now they might have to walk two to three miles. The walkway might reduce it down to 1/3 of a mile. No one wants to ride a shuttle. Once you're in Topsail, you still have to walk a long way to the beach you know?

Not everyone needs a side by side refrigerator freezer and gas generator (or even worse, a Yeti) on the beach. Some people just need a towel. A quick 5 min bike ride to the walkover and maybe a 5 min walk to the beach for me. If I'm allowed to ride the bike on the walkover, or at the very least, get away with it, that's even better. My beach access time is much less, so is the amount of physical exertion. Plus I get a nice walkover, which as I stated earlier, that's the best place to enjoy the beach. Now can I enjoy a beer on the walkover or at the very least get away with it? I don't think it would be officially part of the State Park, so I would say probably yes. If that's a win for me and a loss for some full-of-crap-tree-hugging hippies, so be it. What's the environmental expense? You have a raised path above an existing path on the outer edge of a preserve that allows people to easily enjoy the wonders of nature that they're all so high on. I'm with them on that part. Other than that, they're not making much sense. I wish people would quit spreading false information (or possibly lying) saying that it would only be for people in the gated community. This could be of benefit to lots of locals in the area.

Dang, that sounds logical, too.

After listening to about two hours of comment at the meeting last night, it sounded pretty clear that the 'Cypress Dunes access' would not likely ever get beyond the bluprint stage due to state regulations and law. I was also only roughly familiar with the distances that would be involved with a trip to the beach there, which, as it turns out, would be a hike so unappealing and impractical that it would likely make the access worthless if the goal is to shunt west end beachgoers away from some of the other nearby access points. The boardwalk would be longer than the one found at Deer Lake, and that is a pretty long trek if you were to attempt it with even a modest amount of beach stuff and kids in tow. I think the practical solutions to help access the west end beach are to market the benefits of utilizing the state park itself or buying land somewhere nearby that could be used for parking, facilites and walkover.

Thanks for the update Doc!

LOVE our State Parks!!!!!

Here's the current walk from the furthest point in Flamingo Village:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/30....3601896,-86.2684773,15z/data=!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0

The proposal would simply shift the same walk through a protected state park. It's a red herring and a complete waste of money by the county/TDC.

If you think the opposition was big last night wait until this hits public hearings in Tallahassee.

Here's the current walk from the furthest point in Flamingo Village:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/30....3601896,-86.2684773,15z/data=!4m3!4m2!1m0!1m0

The proposal would simply shift the same walk through a protected state park. It's a red herring and a complete waste of money by the county/TDC.

If you think the opposition was big last night wait until this hits public hearings in Tallahassee.

Your map says Stallworth Blvd is a restricted usage road. Thats the endpoint of the journey. I think it's private. I'll find out.

just to be clear now, I have one question for the environmental power rangers.

building a DUNE WALKOVER over an existing path cut thru the existing dunes and vegetation as we have now is more destructive to your way of thinking?

just to be clear now, I have one question for the environmental power rangers.

building a DUNE WALKOVER over an existing path cut thru the existing dunes and vegetation as we have now is more destructive to your way of thinking?

What's your skin in this game, you said you don't live in Walton County. Do they not have forums where you can discuss your own counties issues?

Your map says Stallworth Blvd is a restricted usage road. Thats the endpoint of the journey. I think it's private. I'll find out.

Well I find out there is a public beach access. I would call that a half-assed beach access. I would feel like an intruder going through that tight little neighborhood to get to the beach. Cars parked on both sides of the road, and that's just the people who live there. If I lived there I'd be praying for another beach access somewhere else. Give me a nice walkover over an existing path cut through the existing dunes and vegetation at the outer edge of a state preserve.

Well I find out there is a public beach access. I would call that a half-assed beach access. I would feel like an intruder going through that tight little neighborhood to get to the beach. Cars parked on both sides of the road, and that's just the people who live there. If I lived there I'd be praying for another beach access somewhere else. Give me a nice walkover over an existing path cut through the existing dunes and vegetation at the outer edge of a state preserve.

I highlighted the incorrect word. This cuts the area in two with a large area of native scrub and a dune lake separated for no other reason than to get to the beach.

Here's an exercise, find the next area of pristine untouched gulf frontage similar to Topsail. I'll wait.

P.S. You're either talking to yourself or forgot to switch over to your troll screen name.

Hello to all tourists, wedding planners, subdivision residents, school kids, and the BCC...

Spend the $120 for a family annual pass to Florida State Parks.

Not only do you get access to Top'sail Park, but to ALL Florida State Parks!!!!!!

This idea (walk over) is insane and reeks of an agenda. Bet I know what it is...(hello mark)

I have my annual pass, WHY don't you?

Lazy, cheap or ignorant?

I highlighted the incorrect word. This cuts the area in two with a large area of native scrub and a dune lake separated for no other reason than to get to the beach.

Here's an exercise, find the next area of pristine untouched gulf frontage similar to Topsail. I'll wait.

P.S. You're either talking to yourself or forgot to switch over to your troll screen name.

It sounds like you're more concerned about the beach frontage than you are about the walkover. That at least makes a little bit of sense. If it's difficult to get to, it's less likely to be trashed.

Florida State Parks | Annual Pass Info

purchase at a park or online. individual pass or family pass. military discounts.

What's your skin in this game, you said you don't live in Walton County. Do they not have forums where you can discuss your own counties issues?

Anyone from anywhere is welcome to discuss our issues. :nono1:

And I have the right to ask any question I like.

This is a Call to Action!

TDC director Jim Bagby will be once again asking the BCC to vote to approve a letter to be sent to the DRP, State Department of Recreation & Parks, asking them, to develop an MOU, Memorandum of Understanding between Walton County & the DRP for this proposed new access through Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. This is in no way a final decision & the process would be long, but it sends an indication to the State DRP that Walton County is interested in taking the next step.

It is a tacit approval of the concept of this project. With significant opposition to this project for a variety of reasons, this should move no further. I will be asking the commissioners to not sign or approve this letter. Instead I'd like to see them spend their efforts & our resources on a more suitable location that is not within an ecologically significant area like the preserve, know as Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Once a preserve is compromised, there is no turning back. I was told by an official high up in the DRP, it is crucial that we the citizens stop this right here & right now. If this goes to the DRP, it is their obligation as managers of our land, to try to work this out.

Please:
1. come to the meeting & ask the commissioners to not sign the letter and/or
2. write to the commissioners & simply ask them to not sign this letter.

Ask them to abandon the idea of going into Topsail Hill Preserve State Park with an additional access & look for a new access that will be truly available to the public. Please send your email this weekend or the latest on Monday, even if you have emailed in the past. Send your email to every commissioner because we need 3 votes to stop this. It is very important for us to stop this now. Every single email is important. Numbers make a big difference to the commissioners.

The proposal for an additional access into Topsail Hill Preserve is on the Walton County Commission agenda Tuesday, September 9 at 4:00 p.m. Write, call and show up at the meeting again. Tell the Commissioners you do not want multiple accesses into out State Parks. Tell them to vote no on sending a letter to the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks that will start the process of an additional access that will be detrimental to Topsail Hill Preserve

Walton County Commissioners:

William "Bill" Chapman (R), District 1 Commissioner, Chair
District Office:
Office (850) 835-4860
Fax (850) 835-4836
chabill@co.walton.fl.us

Kenneth Pridgen (R), District 2 Commissioner
District Office:
Office (850) 834-6328
Fax (850) 834-6385
prikenneth@co.walton.fl.us

Bill Imfeld (R), District 3 Commissioner
District Office:
Office (850) 892-8474
Fax (850) 892-4204
imfbill@co.walton.fl.us

Sara Comander (R), District 4 Commissioner
District Office:
Office (850) 835-4834
Fax (850) 951-0868
comsara@co.walton.fl.us

Save Topsail Preserve - Contact the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks

Another Public hearing will be held Monday September 29, 5:00 at the South Walton Annex PLEASE ATTEND and voice your opposition.

Walton County Tourist Development Council and Cindy Meadows say they have new information but will not share it with the public at this time. They are attempting to change the location of the proposed new access further east, build a bridge across Stallworth Lake ending with an access on the County Property at the end of Stallworth Preserve.

The proposed access will still impact beach dune and canopy scrub that is habitat for several endangered species and now will negatively impact a coastal dune lake. It will also open the flood gates for access into other areas of Topsail Preserve and Grayton Beach and Deer Lake State Parks. Multiple Beach accesses into the parks will destroy the delicate conservation lands that make South Walton a special place.

Email the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks
Tell them:

NO NEW ACCESS INTO TOPSAIL PRESERVE, ANYWHERE.

Sine A. Murray
Office of Park Planning
Division of Recreation & Parks

sine.murray@dep.state.fl.us

Truman,

Would you start a Facebook page so that more people that don't want new access to Topsail can hear about this, and ACT? I believe the reach would be further than just SoWal forum alone, and the word can get out much faster.

And please post that Facebook page once it's up.

I am writing Sine A. Murray now....

View attachment 38095

Either not enough Walton County citizens who are opposed to this have not spoken up, or the commissioners are just ignoring the people. Is there not ONE commissioner opposed to this?

Truman,

Would you start a Facebook page so that more people that don't want new access to Topsail can hear about this, and ACT? I believe the reach would be further than just SoWal forum alone, and the word can get out much faster.

And please post that Facebook page once it's up.

I am writing Sine A. Murray now....

business facebook pages get almost no reach, unless paid advertising goes into it. but there is a Walton County facebook group that is discussing the issue at length. you must request to be a member. it's a good group of concerned citizens but rather small segment of pretty involved citizens from South Walton, mostly of the same opinions.

all these options are good, in addition to SoWal Forum. I imagine there are endless comments on Walton Sun articles? I don't know though - I don't really follow it.

Either not enough Walton County citizens who are opposed to this have not spoken up,
or the commissioners are just ignoring the people. Is there not ONE commissioner opposed to this?

there's no chance there's a third choice? perhaps there are more people who are for more access than you imagine????

Who would be for taking state land and giving it to a small subdivision? That's what this is clearly about. Somebody on the BCC or the TDC owes someone a favor or lives in that subdivision.

Facebook is a mess. This website is where it's at.