The presentation of the facility and public services was met with unanimous opposition by attendees in the packed South Walton County Annex Board Room. 

15 speakers at the meeting, including attorneys representing several residents, shared concerns that the development of a regional beach access would negatively impact or permanently damage the unique coastal lake formation. 

Several times during the meeting, attendees were asked to raise their hands if they opposed the proposed construction of beach access.  It was clear that there was unanimous opposition due to environmental reasons. 

Garrett Horn, who has lived with his family at Eastern Lake since 1959, addressed the progression the county has made over the last few years to purchase parcels of land at Eastern lake with the intention of protecting the coastal lake and preventing development.  He said, “It seems very ironic and extremely troubling that now this parcel needs to be protected from being developed by our own county…Access to this location [the beach and Eastern Lake] hasn’t changed in all those years, and making it into a regional access won’t enhance this place, but only degrade stormwater, runoff, erosion, and the proliferation of vendors are just a few ways this beautiful, unique place would be degraded.” Horn added, “Beach Operations has done some great work in building beach access on straight stretches of the coastline, but it should never be in the business of trying to build structures surrounding a coastal dune lake outfall.”

Mark Scott spoke about his effort to circulate a petition, which has more than 1,600 signatures as of January 14. Scott said some 740 Walton County residents, along with 230 people from surrounding counties and another 200 from other states, oppose the idea county employees presented. Scott added that, “What the petition said was to keep – and this is summarizing it, – keep the area neighborhood access prohibited from becoming a regional access, no vending of any kind, no new construction in the parcel.”

Barbara Morano, a resident of South Walton, spoke from a historical perspective about the initial acquisition of the parcels of land at Eastern Lake. “I advocated with my fellow citizens that the county buy this land…I don’t have to tell you that the coastal dune lakes are rare and authentic.  And “authentic” is a word that our TDC needs to realize…These coastal dune lakes are rare.  They are not man-made…They are rare in this world, and nobody wants you to touch a piece of sand…[Then she looked to the audience and said] If I said everyone, raise your hands to everyone who does not want those dunes touched.  Can you raise your hands?”  At that moment, every attendee had their hands in the air.  Morano concluded, “We don’t want any dune walkovers.  We don’t want a $500,000 study to tell you anything before you begin.  And please excuse me if I sound very angry – it’s really passion.”  

Morano mentioned that the BCC is making great efforts to protect farmland in North Walton County.  She, along with many in attendance, voiced the need to address natural and environmental conservation in South Walton as well.

The next step for the proposed Eastern Lake Regional Beach Access will be to go before the Board of County Commissioners for their direction.  That will most likely happen in late January or in February.  At the BCC Meeting during Public Comment, Barbara Morano gave an overview of the Community Meeting and stressed that conservation of our coastal dunes must be a priority to the future and preservation of our most precious natural resources.