Destin reviews SRS master plan; council weighs Morgan complex, harbor improvements and Crosstown Connector timing

City of Destin staff briefed the City Council in a workshop on the SRS master plan for the town/city center, presenting a proposed Morgan Civic and Recreational Complex, Harbor 1 public-space concepts and other town-center priorities and asking the council for guidance on next steps.

City staff framed the plan around a single guiding line: “preserve our heritage and protect our future by making good decisions today,” and said the firm SRS produced a multi-part vision that includes a proposed Morgan Civic and Recreational Complex, expanded museum and harbor-area features and pedestrian and traffic improvements.

The most developed estimate in the presentation was for the Morgan Civic and Recreational Complex. City staff said that engineers estimate roughly $43.43 million for the complex; staff reported roughly $32 million of that would be building facilities and about $10 million would be site, signage and engineering work. Components shown on staff slides included a lake, a renovated playground (scheduled to open next Monday), the Morgan Sports Center, a new community center and plaza, a new city hall (as an option on the slides), additional playgrounds, picnic shelters, large- and small-dog areas, a skate park, outdoor basketball…