Walton County workshop: residents urge ‘do nothing’ as tourism staff outline Eastern Lake regional-access plan

Josh Urban, Walton County’s beach operations director, opened a public workshop to gather input on a proposed regional beach access at Eastern Lake and said staff would bring community feedback back to the Board of County Commissioners for direction. "We're here with kind of our idea," Urban told attendees, stressing the presentation was preliminary and that the county could also present a "do nothing" option to the commissioners.

In a roughly five‑minute presentation, a county presenter identified in materials as Ryan outlined the project history and scope. The county bought parcels in 2019 to expand public beachfront, previously completed a municipal parking lot and now proposes a two‑phase project: Phase A would add a restroom/bathhouse, dune walkovers, showers, ADA parking, low‑speed vehicle and bicycle parking and a turnaround at San Roy Road; Phase B would make right‑of‑way improvements including sidewalks on Eastern Lake Drive and San Roy Road and drainage work. The presenter said the work would be funded through the tourism bed tax and gave budget figures presented to the public: about $9.5 million in property acquisition, $500,000 for design (FY25) and $3.75 million budgeted for construction. He…