When completed, the 34.62-acre site on the east end of U.S. Highway 98 to add their blessings to the property that will provide recreational opportunities for youth throughout the county, and particularly for the south end.

DEBORAH WHEELER @WaltonSunDeb

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Local dignitaries and community leaders came out Monday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking for South Walton’s much-anticipated sports park.

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When completed, the 34.62-acre site on the east end of U.S. Highway 98 to add their blessings to the property that will provide recreational opportunities for youth throughout the county, and particularly for the south end.

“This will be a major asset for this county,” said District 1 County Commissioner Bill Chapman, in whose district the park will be located. “We will have more options for our kids instead of just Helen McCall Park. This will provide a real nice facility.”

The park has been in the planning stages for a year and Walton County Commissioners finalized the contract with C.W. Roberts Construction last month. The County’s Special Projects Manager overseeing the project is Rick Wilson.

The project is projected to cost around $6.13 million to build.

The park will be designed in phases. The groundbreaking is Phase 1 and will consist of all grading, bringing in more than 90,000 cubic yards of fill dirt, fencing, parking, sidewalks, irrigation and everything needed to maintain the fields.

When complete, there will be three multi-use fields, three baseball fields, a playground, a two-story concession stand/scorers building with restrooms, and a smaller bathroom near the multi-use fields.

“I said early on that what was originally proposed in the plan was well over $10 million,” said Chapman. “We want to get it going and we can always look at it again later and see what else we can put in.”

Phase I will be complete within a year, said Wilson.

It will be up to the BCC to determine how and when the additional phases will be funded and added.

“I am looking forward to coming back in a year for the dedication and bringing my grandchildren here,” said Commission Chair Cecilia Jones.