Okaloosa County outlines Patriot Park plan for former Shoal River golf course

Okaloosa County officials described plans for Patriot Park, a new public amenity at the former Shoal River Golf Course in Crestview that will include a 1.6-mile trail, dog parks, pickleball courts, playgrounds, restrooms and river access.

"It's Patriot Park, right at the south end of Crestview on 85," Jeff Peters, director of the Facilities and Parks Department for Okaloosa County, said during a short on-site announcement. Peters said the project repurposes the old golf course and will follow a trail that leads to a Shoal River overlook.

The county commissioners "just approved the conceptual plan at the last meeting," Peters said. He added that staff will move into design work for parking and stormwater ponds immediately and that the park is expected to open in the early spring. "I would say in the early spring for for people to come out and join," he said.

Peters said the project team solicited neighborhood input through committee meetings and attempted to incorporate suggestions into the design. Amenities described in the announcement include obstacle courses near the walking trail for children, separate dog-park areas, additional parking, restrooms and a walkout deck on the Shoal River.

The announcement did not specify funding sources, construction contracts, a detailed project timeline, or a firm opening date beyond the early-spring estimate. Peters characterized the site as "just an amazing amenity for Okaloosa County" and encouraged residents to visit the county website for more information.

Details such as the construction schedule, funding breakdown and the next formal county action were not specified in the on-site remarks; Peters indicated design work would start following the commissioners' conceptual approval.